The Hero Returns - 01

영웅 회귀하다
– STORY –
The strongest hero of humanity, Kim Sung Bin.
He threw everything on the line and fought but… He still

couldn’t prevent the destruction of the world.
But his legend has just begun as he returns 20 years into

the past.
– GENRE –
Action Adventure Fantasy

Martial Arts Supernatural
The sky was blue, and the smell of the rich, earthy soil was carried by a seasonal
breeze.
The sight still came to him when he closed his eyes.
As it could never be seen again, it was much more precious.
"The past is the past."
He looked up only to see the black sky. Instead of the smell of soil, the smell of blood
was everywhere. Was it a seasonal smell? No, there was only a repetitive, freezing
winter that made the world nearly uninhabitable.
[Name: Kim Sung-in] [Another name: Hero]
[Spell counts: 97] [Spell grade: 9]
Sung-in went through his Ability Record in his mind, which was initially not a lot, but
now it had become comprehensive. Among those statuses, he checked his one
specific status.
[Fatigue level: 88]
"I knew it," he murmured as he checked his fatigue level on the bottom. "That's why
my body feels so heavy."
The fatigue level showed a numerical representation of his current fitness state, with
0 meaning the best physiological condition and 100 meaning the opposite. 88 was
quite high. No wonder his body felt as heavy as soaked cotton. Normal people
couldn't even move their bodies in such a state.
Sung-in sighed as he looked around him. All he could see was the corpses of
monsters, piles of them from a distance. That was his masterpiece.
Thump, thump.
He heard footsteps in the distance, and one set sounded particularly familiar.
"You guys are so fast." He was being sarcastic.
They must have noticed the fight, but they were still so late. He realized it was their
strategy to get rid of him once and for all. That meant all those monsters had just
been decoys.
This is the end. He thought this would be the last, but it was not as bad as he thought.
The reason was obvious. There was no more reason to resist.
"Now…” Sung-in stood up from the pile of dead monsters. "It is time to die."
The Hero.
That was another name for Sung-in. The title was from his ability, which increased
his physical and magical damage by 20% and reduced the damage he would receive.
However, that was not just another name for Sung-in.
"Spell power of 9 grade? Was there such a magical awakener?"
"For a guy like you, it may be."
"It might be possible. No, it has to be possible."
"Do you think he may be able to restore our world?"
He'd heard those kinds of words many times.
At the time, he didn't know what they meant. No, he knew what they meant but
wasn't able to understand.
They demanded a lot of things from him.
They said, "Sung-in, you are our hope." "You know what a hero is? The person who
can save the world. You should consider yourself a hero. You understand what
Mommy means, right?" That was his mother.
He was a good son, and at one point, he did consider himself a hero.
"You are the hero."
"Please, please, save this world."
"Mr. Kim, you are the only one now."
Hero, hero, hero… That almost drove him crazy. Stop calling me that. Are you not
getting tired of the word?
It had been about 40 years ago when the monsters first appeared. Many magical
awakeners like him had become heroes as they fought the monsters. The monsters
had been too many and indeed so strong that even those heroes with magical
powers struggled. People needed a stronger hero, and Sung-in had been one of them.
"Hero, my ass."
He plunged to the ground and looked up, but only the dark, murky sky came to his
sight. His vision was slowly getting blurry.
Fafnir. An ancient hero, a dragon that was killed by Sigurd.
But Fafnir was a nickname for a giant with a dragon head, who had killed so many
human heroes. The war was becoming advantageous for the monsters. Even Sung-in
had to fight the giant for three years straight, although he had been the one who
frequently retreated. Fafnir was not to be defeated easily by any human.
[Though you are my enemy, I admire your power], Fafnir said.
That isn't really surprising. For a monster like Fafnir, anything he did was not that
surprising anymore. He was almost like a demigod; being able to speak a human
language was nothing compared to his other powers.
"Bull… sh*t…” Sung-in mouthed. "Do you also think I'm a hero?"
[You are indeed a hero. You deserved that title, even if it is from others], Fafnir said.
A hero created by others. He sounded like he knew everything. Obviously, he knew
about Sung-in, as he must have spied on him ever since they first fought.
But that wasn't like him. That wasn't like a monster.
[You are the last one.]
The last. That was self-explanatory; everyone had been killed.
For the past year, there had been no one other than Sung-in. He had been fighting
alone for all that time. And here was the outcome: let's fight until one of us dies.
Fafnir had destroyed the whole world. Sung-in may as well pay the worth of his
name.
"I'll die with Fafnir and kill as many monsters as I can. What's the point of dwelling
on this destroyed world with no one else around?''
However…
"This is what I've got." Sung-in laughed at his own poor condition.
Fafnir was much more powerful than he had thought. He was also without any weak
points. He still had billions of his monsters, and Sung-in was all alone. Even worse,
Fafnir didn't seem to move until Sung-in moved first.
Even if his fatigue level was 0, it would still be a struggle to win.
Fafnir finally opened his enormous mouth.
[By eating your flesh, I will be devouring this world.]
A story of a hero who killed an evil monster and saved the world. That kind of happy
ending was far from being realistic.
"So, basically, you mean I won't be a hero."
Crash—
In a room in a Dong-ha University hospital, Su-hyeun was changing his clothes as he
was listening to his doctor.
"Please make sure to avoid any intensive exercise and come back if you feel sick
again."
"Thank you so much, doctor."
Su-hyeun kept on buttoning his clothes. Beside Su-hyeun, Shin Su-yeong, his mother,
thanked the doctor.
While they were talking, Su-hyeun looked out the window at the sight of the city
beneath the hospital building and the blue sky above. With a flock of cumulus clouds
slowly flying over the sky, the whole world seemed placid and peaceful.
"It's rather awkward everytime I see it."
It had been a month since he was hospitalized. For four weeks of recovery, he had
looked out the window like this every day as he enjoyed the peaceful sight.
"This sight — it will be all gone by 2030. All that will remain is pictures and
paintings."
2018.
Everytime he checked his smartphone, he was surprised by the year and date.
Back in the past, in a different person's body.
His death from the battle with Fafnir would occur more than 20 years later.
Now, there was only news of a monster and dungeon. The outbreak and the initial
invasion of monsters had yet to happen.
"I've come back to the past." However, not in Sung-in's body, but Su-hyeun's.
He took out a hand mirror from the drawer. He was slightly smiling.
"Why is he smiling?"
Since it wasn't his face, Su-hyeun's smile felt quite awkward. But, after about a
month, he'd begun to acknowledge it as his own.
"Mom, please. Shall we go now?" he asked, stopping to look at Su-hyeun's smile while
his mother was still talking to the doctor.
"Wait a second. You should properly thank the doctor before you leave."
"I'm so hungry for anything other than tasteless hospital food."
"You want to eat out? I actually have to go back to work soon."
For the past month, he had learned about his mother's personality as he talked with
her.
"In that case…”
"No, Mom. I want your delicious cooking," he said, implying that her food was the
most delicious in the whole world. And being so sweet paid off.
"Okay. If that's the case, let's hurry and go home. Goodbye, doctor."
The doctor moved on to the next patient. As they were leaving the hospital, Sung-in
snuck a peek at Shin Su-yeong.
"So this is Su-Hyeun's mother."
No, now she was his mother.
Though it was confusing at first, it wasn't hard to accept as time passed. He was now
quite attached to Shin Su-yeong.
She was quite different from his real mother in every way. She was so cheerful that it
made him think maybe all mothers were supposed to be like her.
"I want nothing but for you to stay healthy."

Comparing Shin Su-yeong, who wanted nothing but her son's wellness —
"I believe you will do better than this."
— to his previous mother, who wanted her son to be the best in every possible way,
they were so different. He felt a huge discrepancy and awkwardness.
His previous mother was too cold, too strict. It wasn't just because she wanted him
to be a hero. From just this one month, he felt he had learned much more about his
new mother than his old one.
Shin Su-yeong had come to see her son every day to check on him after work. She
never forgot to do so even though she got tired from work.
Su-hyeun looked at his mother again, and their eyes meet.
"Why do you keep looking at me, Su-hyeun?"
"Nothing, Mom." He nonchalantly turned to attention to his smartphone.
"Su-hyeun, I feel that you've changed."
"How?"
"You speak differently these days. More politely, I suppose."
Right, that must be why she seemed a little taken aback when I first spoke to her in
the hospital.
"You're like a totally different person."
"Well." He wondered what he should say. "I've just decided to change."
"Change?"
"Yeah." He said whatever popped into his mind, but it was partly true because he was
still Sung-in, not Su-hyeun. It was not possible to be like Su-hyeun completely, as he
didn't know what Su-hyeun was like to begin with.
Shin Su-yeong hugged him all of a sudden.

"Mom?" he asked, quite surprised. "What are you doing?"
"Su-hyeun?" She continued, "No matter how you change, you know I always love
you."
"Okay…”
"Good. That's all we need to know as long as you don't do anything bad and we stay
near each other."
"I understand."
"Good. You're the only one I care about." She released him after she heard his
answers.
"Actually, Mom. I need to go somewhere," Su-hyeun said as he checked his phone.
"Where? You're not 100% well."
"I'll be right back before dinner. You can go back to your work." As he said this, he
walked away.
"Then don't be late." Shin Su-yeong waved at him.
With Shin Su-yeong's voice far behind him, he shook his head sideways.
"That always gives me goosebumps."
He was still not used to his new mother's affectionate expressions that sometimes
came so suddenly. He wasn't sure how to react to it.
Of course, he didn't dislike it. Rather, it made him feel good.
"Right! I don't have much time before dinner." He planned to go back home before
Shin Su-yeong came back from work; he didn't want to make her worry.
Using his smartphone app, he navigated toward his destination, although it took him
a long time. The place he arrived at turned out to be an alley inside a small
residential area.
"Ah, finally you came."
"That was so fast."
Some guys in a shaded spot beckoned him to come near. All four of them were
around Su-hyeun's age.
"Are you guys the people I've been looking for?" Su-hyeun asked as he checked with
his phone.
"What are you saying?"
"I guess I'm right."
He checked a text message he got from a guy named Gwan Jang-hyeok.
—I heard you've been in a hospital.
—When are you coming back? I want to see you.
—I'm a little strapped for cash these days. Can you help?
—Are you f*cking ignoring me? Pick up your damn phone.
—You said you're coming back today. I'm where we last met. Come right away,
otherwise I'll get you rehospitalized.
The text messages were all so mean. They didn't seem to care if he called the police.
It wasn't the first time, anyway. He could see how they bullied Su-hyeun.
He had learned from his mom that Su-hyeun dropped out of high school. Perhaps
those guys were the main reason for that.
"Did you bring my money?"
So Su-hyeun was supposed to bring some money to them.
"Sure. I should also get rid of all the scumbags like you."
"What the f*ck?"
"I can't believe this."
"Have you gone crazy?"
One of the guys nearest to Su-hyeun swung his fist.
Then, all of sudden, "AHH!"
Su-hyeun snatched his fist and twisted it. The man screamed, looking at his broken
wrist.
"What the —?"
While the rest of them were caught off guard, Su-hyeun had already become aware of
his surroundings. There were no passersby who could witness anything and no
surveillance cameras. That was probably why they had called him here in the first
place.
"Don't worry. I'll make it quick." He walked toward the now frightened men.
Ahh…
Ahhhhh…
It felt nice to beat up all the bullies who were now squirming in pain like worms.
That was easy.
It was nothing to him. He had been through much harder fights countless times
before, as it was important for heroes to practice fighting in order to defeat
monsters. Comparing this to those occasions, those four bullies did not have any
special fighting skills; they were absolutely nothing.
Of course, Su-hyeun must have been the same as them, helpless and weak, but basic
experience and insight made the huge difference.
He could tell how ruthlessly they must have tormented Su-hyeun, judging by all
those evil text messages from them.
Just from those guys.
All he needed was a little bit of courage. Su-hyeun also could get help from law
enforcement, but what appeared to work best for the bullies was a little bit of a
lesson from Su-hyeun himself.
Su-hyeun threw the clubs and metal pipes right beside Gwan Jang-hyeok. Those
weapons are all theirs.
"Hey."
"Yes… Yes… Sir." Jang-hyeok was obviously terrified.
What a dumbass! You'd been bullied by those cowards for years during school?
"Tell me. Why did you bring all these pipes and weapons?"
"Well, that was just…” Su-hyeun could tell he was trying to give him an answer that
would save himself.
"You were trying to kill me, right?"
Jang-hyeok went pale at his question.
"Then I suppose I can kill you too. Self-defense, you know. "
As he said this, he picked up one of the metal pipes that was thrown beside him. He
swung it toward Jang-hyeok's head. As it almost landed on him. "Ahh, please save
me!"
Tap—
It just lightly tapped his head. At that moment, Jang-hyeok wet himself.
He was such a coward.
Su-hyeun leaned toward him. "If you do this again…”

Bump—!
Su-hyeun said this as he beat him on his forehead. He gave all of the others the same
warning. He didn't know how it would turn out, but surely, they had learned their
lesson.
So, I got one out of the list.
As he walked out of the alley, he checked his phone. October 2018.
He thought about what he was doing in his former life around this time of year.
My school.
At that time, before he became a hero, he was just an ordinary college student.
Dong-ha University.
He realized where to go next. Before he went back home, he needed to check his past
life.
Act 2
Dong-ha University was one of the top three renowned universities in Korea. Su-
hyeun was still attending this school until the day before, when he was Sung-in in his
past life. But…
"It's not here?"
"How many times must I tell you?" The man who looked like the faculty's teaching
assistant replied nervously. Su-hyeun knew him. It was the same teaching assistant
back when he had studied here. It was this school, but…
"Student number 201413109, Kim Sung-in. This student isn't from our school. You
may have come to the wrong place; it'll be faster for you to double-check." It was
evident that the teaching assistant was suppressing his anger while answering.
Perhaps he should have been, since he was wasting his time on something so time-
consuming. Su-hyeun could only trudge out of the faculty department.
As classes ended, students came pouring out of the classrooms. Seeing this brought a
probable thought to Su-hyeun's mind. However, no one knew of the student named
Kim Sung-in, even if he remembered their faces and names.
It couldn't be…
A sudden thought got Su-hyeun to flip out his smartphone. Su-hyeun opened his
bank's website and entered his name and resident number, which then brought him
to the authentication page.
The result: The name and resident number do not match.
The result was the same, regardless of how many times he tried. Could he have
misremembered? No, it couldn't be. Su-hyeun wouldn't be able to get into Dong-ha
University if he couldn't even remember his resident number. Did I… disappear?
It was hard to believe. As Su-hyeun's mind turned blank and cooled, his steps steered
toward one direction. He immediately headed to his old house.
Su-hyeun rang the doorbell to his old house in Pyeongchon, Anyang. Ding-dong. The
bell rang. Su-hyeun's heart started racing, and his blank mind was immediately filled
with complicated thoughts as soon as the door opened. "Who is this?"
It was his mother. Not Su-hyeun's, but Kim Sung-in's mother. Why was she home?
She wouldn't be in most of the time, except for a day or two a month. Should he
consider himself lucky? But Su-hyeun couldn't bring himself to speak in front of his
mother. "Who are you?"
"I'm…” Su-hyeun then forced a smiling face and asked, "Is there… someone named
Kim Sung-in here?"
"Kim Sung-in? No, I live alone here. Did you perhaps get the wrong place?" As
expected, the answer was no different. It was his mother, not anyone else. Su-hyeun
half-expected that she might not have remembered him. He was now certain that his
life as Kim Sung-in did not exist in this world.
"Ha…” It eventually came to this. It didn't take him long to get this straight in his
mind. It was one of the possibilities he had in mind.
That's true — I'm here. There shouldn't be another me since I'm here. It was easier
to think of it that way.
If so, mother too… would not have remembered Su-hyeun. It was an awkward
feeling. The woman standing in front of him now was no longer his mother. But why?
She didn't look disturbed. It was just him who felt confused. If so…
As expected, I can't get any closer.
Su-hyeun lowered his head and bowed. "I seem to have found the wrong place. I'm
sorry." Su-hyeun left the premises and headed towards town with a knotted heart. He
gradually calmed down as he walked along the busy streets.
I'm Kim Su-hyeun. There was a question that he had been asking himself numerous
times for the past month: Am I Su-hyeun or Sung-in? And the answer to his question
finally came. I'm now… Su-hyeun.
He repeated this countless times in his head so as to not be wavered by it, and to
avoid confusion. Out of nowhere, he heard Shin Su-yeong's voice. "I'll not ask why
you're trying to change. Just don't go astray, and don't go too far away from home."
Why would she say that? Now he seemed to have understood. Shin Su-yeong felt
anxious. Su-hyeun realized that she too had the same worries that he was having
now — that he might leave for somewhere further away, that he might go
somewhere far away and not return at all.
He slapped both his cheeks hard with his hands. That woke him up. He was no longer
attached to his past life. There was no one to remember him and nothing else for him
to leave or regret.
No, just one. Su-hyeun's eyes sank as he started to walk. Fafnir.
Not from the past, but the future. No, more accurately, something that he would
encounter in the future. If it was 2018 now, Fafnir would appear someday, and this
world would fall. If this was a world where Kim Sung-in did not exist, then this world
would only become worse, not better. That is, if he did nothing.
On his way home, Su-hyeun observed his surroundings while walking on the busy
streets. The sky was blue. Being in the bustling and lively landscape seemed to make
one feel strangely excited. Until now, he would not have thought that he would miss
this moment. In this landscape, in this setting. He wanted to protect the future that
he would be living in.
To do that, first… Su-hyeun turned his head and muttered while looking far into the
horizon. "I'm going to have to suffer for a while."
Su-hyeun took the bus and arrived home. It wasn't hard finding his way back. While
preparing to be discharged, he noted down his house address in advance. A two-
room semi-basement apartment. Su-hyeun entered the house feeling awkward.
Click—
As soon as Su-hyeun entered after opening the door with his keys, he could see the
small living room and two rooms at once. It wasn't that small for two to live, but it
was apparent that they were not so well-to-do since it was a semi-basement.
Seems that she isn't back yet. It was early evening. Though it was time for the office
workers to get off from work, Shin Su-yeong had yet to return. She usually ended
late.
I think we may have a late dinner… There's still some time. Su-hyeun went into what
seemed to be his room of the two. In a small room of 10 square meters, Su-hyeun sat
on the bed that took up half that space.
Although it was his first time, it did not feel unfamiliar. A weird feeling came to him.
It was a different sense of relief and comfort as compared to when he stayed in the
hospital. It seemed that his body remembered this place.
Pull yourself together. He was quite affected by Shin Su-yeong. It wasn't in the wrong
way. Instead, he liked the comfort, relief, and warmth, which was different from
before. But from now on, these emotions would become poison to him.
Smack—
Su-hyeun slapped both of his cheeks hard. Pull yourself together, he repeatedly
muttered in his mind.
From now on… I'll be back as Sung-in. He had lived as Su-hyeun for the past month,
and it would stay that way in the future. But besides that, as a Magical Awakener, no
one else would be able to catch up to Kim Sung-in.
I'm now… As if chanting a spell, Su-hyeun continued muttering in his mind. Sung-in.
As the spell was finally controlling Su-hyeun. Whoosh—
Su-hyeun's hand stretched forward and grasped his wide-open hand tightly. Rip! Su-
hyeun made a tear in the air, and a space formed. A "doorway" was made such that
only Su-hyeun could see it.
Step, step—
Su-hyeun walked towards the door. And after taking the first step, the landscape
changed in front of Su-hyeun's eyes.
Su-hyeun opened his eyes. The white space came back to him. A familiar place, one
that he had seen before. The warm feeling from earlier subsided quickly. Su-hyeun's
eyes changed to those from his past life.
[Welcome to the Tower of Trials.]
[Kim Su-hyeun, will you start the trials now?]
It started.
The Tower of Trials. A place commonly referred to as an abyss by outsiders. Those

who passed the first floor would be able to gain their abilities and become "Magical
Awakeners." Of course, it was just the first step, but that performance was also
equivalent to the Magical Awakener's level of awakening. If so, how could one enter
the Tower of Trials?
No precise requirements were stated yet. And that was the same for Su-hyeun when
he was still Sung-in who lived in the future. It was such that one would know when
the moment arrived. For Su-hyeun, the moment he opened his eyes in this life, he
realized the method of entering the Tower of Trials. No, more accurately, it seemed
as though he remembered the way to enter it. His past life had a positive influence.
However, Su-hyeun delayed the beginning of the trials until now.
And the only reason. In the best condition.
For the past month, Su-hyeun had been hospitalized. He had been waiting for his
fractured bone to heal and for his health to recover fully. His body now had been fully
recovered. While he was hospitalized, he had also done rehabilitation training on his
own. He was convinced that this was sufficient.
"Let's start."
[Kim Su-hyeun, the trials start now.]
[Choose the level of difficulty.]
[Levels 1~10]
[As the level goes up, the level of difficulty increases, and the reward for clearing
each level gets better.]
The explanation for the trials appeared in front of Su-hyeun's eyes. The trials were
divided into a total of 10 levels. The most manageable level started at Level 1, and
the difficulty would have reached its highest point at level 10.
It was a tough question. There was no right answer, and since there was no wrong
answer, it was even tougher — to choose level 1 and clear the level with perfection,
or to choose a higher level and scrape through the level.
The choice was up to him. And…
"Level 10." Su-hyeun's choice was already made.
[You have chosen Level 10.]
Su-hyeun had chosen Level 8 in his past life. It was quite difficult, and as tough as it
was, the bounty was quite rewarding.
The trials did not start easy. But… It's not enough with just this.
There was no end to the Tower of Trials. No one knew how many floors existed
within this colossal tower. That was how it was known as being endless. But going up
the higher floors did not mean that one was deemed to be stronger. There were cases
where some Magical Awakeners who only cleared a few levels were stronger than
those who completed dozens of levels. That was the difference when clearing levels
and the levels of difficulty for the Tower of Trials.
High risks, high returns. Su-hyeun thought as the world began its fall. What would
happen if he had chosen a level of greater difficulty? What if he had taken a tougher
route? Su-hyeun soon came to regret his choice for the first time.
This time… That was how he made up his mind then.
[Level 10 of the Tower of Trials' First Floor will start.]

A dull voice was heard as the scene before Su-hyeun's eyes changed.
The white scene from before had colors added to it. The precious scene was one of
those that couldn't be seen outside the Tower of Trials.
The chilly air tickled his skin.
The background of the trials was the Colosseum.
Grrr—
Kyaaa—!
The Colosseum was empty, but the cries of the monsters could be heard from
somewhere.
What great sound effects.
Starting from the first floor, the background looked great.
One floor, ten levels — he knew about its theme.
Though the trials vary from the second floor onwards, the first level's trial was
determined by its difficulty.
There was almost no one who cleared the first level trials.
Su-hyeun, too, had internal conflicts.
Would this be the right choice? On the contrary, wouldn't choosing those with
greater difficulties bring worse results?
But his concern did not last long.
Nothing changes if there are no differences.

Change does not come without one's will. There's nothing else as stupid and selfish
as expecting positive changes while doing nothing.
[Choose your weapon.]
A variety of weapons appeared around Su-hyeun.
Sword, spear, katana, ax, hammer, bow, etc.
Just the weapon types alone went well over the hundreds.
And Su-hyeun knew how to use more than half the weapons.
But there was no need to contemplate over which weapon to choose. Though Su-
hyeun knew how to use more than half of them, there was the only one which he
knew inside out.
Click—
Su-hyeun grabbed the sword.
The best weapon that was prepared to deal with Fafnir, the Balmung.
It was a sword type weapon, and Su-hyeun had used it for the longest time.
In terms of skills, no other weapons are on par with the sword.
[You have chosen the 'Silver Longsword.']
[Check its state.]
As Su-hyeun ascended the levels, the explanations would get less amiable, and the
difficulty would get higher. Compared to that, the description now was so much
friendlier.
"State."
[Name: Kim Su-hyeun]
[Strength: 11] [Agility: 12]

[Health: 10] [Reflex: 14]
[Fatigue: 10]
Its overall stats were not inferior.
The average stats could be seen as 10, so there weren't any stats lower than that.
Particularly, the reflex stat was well above average.
"Why did I get beaten up so much with such stats?"
Perhaps Su-hyeun's personality was the most significant contributing factor.
"Although my magic level and magic count were not evaluated…”
It was not bad at this level.
All preparations were completed.
Up until then, nothing had happened in the Colosseum.
It seemed that time was given to the newcomer to check his own condition and
adapt to the new environment.
No matter how Su-hyeun thought about it, the system was treating him quite well up
until now.
Of course, Su-hyeun didn't need this friendliness.
Su-hyeun stood in the middle of the Colosseum and looked up into the sky.
"Stop wasting time and start now."
[Do you wish to start now?]
Indeed, the system here felt vaguely like a game.
Like a meticulously built artificial intelligence, it understood every intention and

gave the right replies.
It was a very convenient point.
"Yes."
[The trials starts now.]
[Fight and obtain victory.]
Simple and concise.
There's no need to complicate things. Su-hyeun knew what to do as soon as he saw

the monsters appear in front of him.
Plonk, grrrr—
A red-furred wolf growled as it watched Su-hyeun.
If there was one more unique feature, it would be its third eye.
He wasn't sure where it came from. Not from the sky, nor from the ground.
There would be people flustered at the monster which appeared suddenly. But Su-
hyeun knew about the trials beforehand, as well as the beast standing before him.
The Vampire Wolf.
Amongst all monsters, the Vampire Wolf was considered the weakest and of the
lowest rank.
Its physical and abilities did not have much of a difference from ordinary wolves.
But the tricky part was its "bloodsucking" trait.
"Its bloodsucking trait helps strengthen itself. On the other hand, a small amount of
poison on its teeth reduces its movement speed."
Plonk—!
The Vampire Wolf dashed towards Su-hyeun.

At that moment.
Slam—!
Splat—!
Su-hyeun swung his sword at the charging Vampire Wolf and chopped off half its
head.
It was a masterpiece done at a timely moment with a fully prepared stance.
Although Su-hyeun could not completely chop off its head due to lack of strength, it
made the Vampire Wolf plunge headfirst onto the floor as if losing its breath.
Squash—!
Su-hyeun picked up his sword and swung in the opposite direction, cutting off the
wolf's head entirely.
Its breathing stopped.
[You have gained 10 achievement points.]
[You have killed your first enemy.]
[You have gained 1 strength point.]
The reward at the beginning was great.
It was a great kill that gained Su-hyeun a precious point in stats.
Could there be more rewards?
Every time a floor was cleared in the Tower of Trials, rewards were given based on
the results and permission to advance to the next floor was given.
In some cases, rewards were also given while clearing the floor. But those were
sporadic cases.
Grrrr—
Plonk, plonk—!
The slain Vampire Wolf's corpse disappeared, and two other Vampire Wolves
materialized.
Two more.
It was still manageable.
Su-hyeun raised his sword again.
This time, Su-hyeun made his move first.
Slide—
Su-hyeun slid his newfound body between the two Vampire Wolves.
It wasn't as quick. This was the movement limit of Su-hyeun's newfound body.
The Vampire Wolves, too, began running at the same time Su-hyeun did.
And at that moment, Su-hyeun withdrew his body deep into the ground.
At the same time, he swung his sword upwards.
Slit—
Slash—
A large cut was made across the Vampire Wolf's abdomen as it flew above Su-hyeun.
The other Vampire Wolf missed its target and landed lightly. The injured wolf cried
painfully while squirming about on the floor.
Dash—!
It wasn't certain if it was because of the death of its friend or its instinctive hunger
for blood, but the remaining Vampire Wolf ran tirelessly towards Su-hyeun.
And…
Rip—!
Su-hyeun's sword ripped the running Vampire Wolf's mouth apart.
Thud—!
The two injured Vampire Wolves were not dead.
Of course, they would gradually die if he left them alone.
Shaking off the blood off his sword, Su-hyeun muttered.
"Indeed… I still haven't gotten used to it."
He was hospitalized for a month and still hasn't gotten used to fighting in a new
body.
If he could use his strength to the fullest, he could have amputated the heads of the
Vampire Wolves.
"But it was pretty good earlier," he added, referring to him making use of the
opponent's charging momentum to fly the counter.
It was the best way that Su-hyeun could come up with from his current strength and
agility, which were lower than before.
To make use of the counter, Su-hyeun had to continuously observe his opponent's
movement and lure them into action.
"I'll just have to get used to it bit by bit."
The trials on the first floor until then were splendid.
As the theme was the Colosseum, only simple battles with the low-rank monsters
occurred.
There was no better way than this for Su-hyeun to adjust to his new body.
Poke, poke—
Su-hyeun did not forget to kill off the Vampire Wolves that were lying on the floor.
The second reward popped up in Su-hyeun's mind.
Unfortunately, no stats were increased this time.
What was the difference?
There was no other way to test the hypothesis that he came up with besides
continuing the battle.
Grrr—
Plonk, plonk—!
Another two Vampire Wolves appeared before Su-hyeun.
This time, it wasn't just the Vampire Wolves.
Different from the Vampire Wolves, what could be called something close to a real
monster had appeared.
Grrr—
A beast with dark red fur and a build smaller than the Vampire wolf.
Even though it had two eyes closed, its third eye was wide open. It was drooling as if
watching Su-hyeun as its meal.
"Mad Wolf."
Also known as the Rabid Wolf.
The reason why the level 10 trial was so tough was due to this beast.
Of course, the Vampire Wolf was not an easy opponent for normal humans, but as
long as one had a weapon in his hands, it was manageable.
But the beast ahead was the real deal.
It wasn't one that should appear on the first floor.
It was a monster that even well-trained soldiers couldn't catch.
"That's why it's level 10."
Grin—
It had been a while.
Su-hyeun felt as though he was back in his past life.
The bodily senses from his past life seemed to have recovered.
But Su-hyeun was still alert.
"I'm Su-hyeun."
He mustn't be mistaken.
Any small delusion would bring about a considerable side effect.
Putting aside his emotions, he had to view this situation objectively.
And objectively…
"Now."
Step—
Su-hyeun took a step towards the Mad Wolf and two Vampire Wolves.
"I'm stronger."
Plonk, plonk—!
Grrr—
The Vampire Wolves and Mad Wolf howled menacingly at Su-hyeun.
But Su-hyeun didn't even snort.
Su-hyeun had fought with monsters for many years in his past life.
And he knew instinctively that the monsters are scared of him now.
If so…
"Let's go."
It was now or never.
Tap—
The Mad Wolf was running towards Su-hyeun.
At the same time, the Mad Wolf, who was the size of a tiger, stretched its claws
swiftly towards Su-hyeun. The Vampire Wolves were no different.
Slide—
Rip—
Su-hyeun did not go deep.
Instead, he dodged the Mad Wolf's claws and left a long cut along its side.
At the same time he dodged, his body flew past the Vampire Wolves, taking care to
avoid their sharp claws and teeth.
A dig, and an immediate escape. Su-hyeun's lack of agility was replaced with his high
concentration and broad vision.
That was Su-hyeun's strategy.
But it was only for that moment.
Grr—
Plonk, plonk—
The reactions of the two Vampire Wolves had changed.
The Vampire Wolves that barred their teeth at Su-hyeun looked at Mad Wolf.
"The unique feature of the Vampire Wolf is that it can't use blood unnecessarily."
It couldn't have the blood of the same race; unfortunately, for the Mad Wolf, he was
not a member of their family.
It was just a coincidence that their priority was focused on Su-hyeun.
But since the Vampire Wolves have smelt blood…
Plonk, plonk—!
They started dashing towards the Mad Wolf.
And soon a fight between the two Vampire Wolves and the Mad Wolf started.
Not a three vs one, but a one vs one vs two fight.
No, more accurately…
"Only the winner comes this way."
The winner from their fight would go against Su-hyeun.

Su-hyeun's past life, Sung-in, excelled in every way.
Not only were his overall stats remarkable thanks to his regular exercises since his
youth, but due to his mother's influence, he knew the signs of his awakening and
thus had received various training.
He understood the characteristics of the monsters, clearly knew their weaknesses,

and came up with strategies to handle them.
Injuring the Mad Wolf and making use of the Vampire Wolves' instinct to engage
them in a fight was thanks to that.
Ugh, ugggh—
Even though blood was gushing out and life was slowly draining, Mad Wolf was still
drooling and swallowing its saliva.
Its instinct for food was more of an obsession. It didn't think of running away even
though it was close to dying.
"But that was better for me."
It wouldn't be as knotty if it used its quick movement to escape and fought back.
Thankfully, it was an insane monster that lived up to its name. Its intelligence wasn't
that high.
Stab—
Su-hyeun's sword penetrated deep into the Mad Wolf's head through the eye on its
forehead.
At that moment, the Mad Wolf, which was barely alive, died.

[You have passed the first floor's trial.]
[All stats have been increased by 5 points.]
It was the end of the first floor.
Su-hyeun was wide-eyed.
"What a reward…”
300 achievement points.
All stats increased by five.
The reward exceeded his expectations.
Besides the achievement points, the reward was hard to accept as it was rare to be
awarded an increase for all stats.
Plus, it was increased by 5 points for all.
No matter if this was a level 10 trial, the reward was beyond imagination.
"I knew the rewards would depend on the course of the trial and the performance,
but…”
It did not occur to him that the difference would be this great.
Perhaps being rewarded with a stat increase for the first Vampire Wolf kill could be
due to the time taken to finish it off.
Whatever the reason, it was satisfying for Su-hyeun.
If he were to be continuously rewarded in this way, he would be able to earn much

more than he did in his previous life.
[You may use the first floor's store.]

[Do you wish to advance to the next level?]
Another message appeared later on.
It was the message that Su-hyeun was waiting for.
At the store, one could use their achievement points to purchase various weapons,
shields, armor, and other equipment.
Currently, Su-hyeun had a total of 380 achievement points.
It was quite a substantial amount of achievement points earned from the first floor. It
was thanks to the fact that Su-hyeun managed to swiftly pass the trial that got him a
higher amount of points.
"Store."
Su-hyeun opened the store immediately.
Various categories appeared before him, such as equipment, consumer goods,

medication, food, etc. As long as one had achievement points, he could do anything in
this world.
Amongst them, there was only one that Su-hyeun was thinking of.
"Here it is."
[Lowest grade mana catalyst: 300p]
The item that came into Su-hyeun's view was a small bottle located in the consumer
goods section.
The small bottle containing a violet-colored potion was the first item that Su-hyeun
had wanted to purchase long ago.
"I thought it would only be available for purchase at the second level…”
It was thanks to the high achievement points he was rewarded that his plans were
hastened.
"Purchase."
[You have purchased the lowest grade mana catalyst.]
[You have used 300 achievement points.]
As soon as the purchase had been confirmed, the violet-colored potion appeared in
Su-hyeun's hand.
Su-hyeun opened the thumb-sized bottle cap and gulped the potion down.
Gulp—
The catalyst had no taste to it.
But a bitter aftertaste came later.
It was inevitable since the catalyst had been diluted in water.
"Pant—"
Su-hyeun threw the now empty bottle on the floor.
He flopped down to take a seat.
"Pant—"
Su-hyeun exhaled long and deep, focusing on the catalyst that was spreading
throughout his body.
The magic factor also referred to the maximum amount of mana in his body.
If the magic level measures the power level, the magic factor would determine how
much magic power could be released.
The awakener could never ignore neither the magic factor nor the magic level.
If the level was low, the overall power that could be released would be weak no
matter how high the factor is; and if the factor was low, no matter how high the
magic level is, only a small amount of magic power could be used.
"Firstly, mana's maximum limit."
Currently, his body wasn't carrying any magic powers.
The mana catalyst acts as a stimulant that forces the awakener to have magic power.
Of course, if an average person were to drink a small amount like this, it wouldn't
make much of a difference…
Wiggle—
Since Su-hyeun had been dealing with magic for a long time, he reacted to the
catalyst's effect of magic awakening quite sensitively.
"It's done."
[Responding to magic power.]
[Your magic factor has been increased by 1 point.]
[Responding to magic power.]
[Your magic level has advanced by 1 level.]
One point.
It was slightly humiliating.
However, not many would be able to respond to magic power from the first floor. If it
weren't for this particular case, one would only encounter this on the third floor.
Initially, the first floor's level 10 was only a trial testing on one's physical abilities,
and not related in any way to the magic power.
Whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl—
Su-hyeun sent magic power into the sword in his hands.

He felt the sword feeling better in his hands. But it was hard to have the magic power
wrap around the sword itself.
"I can't hold this out for too long…”
It might have been better to get items like a sword or armor than to raise his magic
level and factor.
But Su-hyeun was considering the long run.
"I should get stronger on this floor while I can."
The items couldn't be taken out of the Tower of Trials anyway.
The only thing he could take out would be the body that he built.
"For the sake of the future…”
As the sword's magic power ran out, Su-hyeun lowered it.
"As expected, magic power is most important."
[Will you advance to the next floor?]
As if knowing that Su-hyeun has finished using the store, the system asked if he
would like to advance to the next floor.
Would he?
Or would he stop here, and pause the trials temporarily?
Or…
"No."
Su-hyeun expressed his refusal when the system asked if he would like to advance to
the next floor.
Grrr—
Kyaaa—!
Su-hyeun heard the monsters growling in the Colosseum and said, "Call the next one
out."
No pain, no gain.
You must suffer the equivalent hardship before gaining something.
It was the principle that Su-hyeun had from his past life, and it was also the truth in
this life.
Even if he couldn't endure it, it was still a go.
There was no stopping.
"Before we advance, we should see it until the end, shouldn't we?"
Act 3
In the Tower of Trials, there were some rules to adhere to get stronger.
—Choose the higher levels.
—Clear the higher floors.
—Give a better performance.
Although there were several other expedients like the catalyst that Su-hyeun used,
they were just additives.
The crucial point was how high the level, the floor, and how to get a better
performance to clear the trials.
And depending on the circumstances, it was better to find a way to get a better
performance at certain levels instead of the predetermined.
There were two choices to this question.

Yes and No.
Most would choose "Yes," as they would have decided to start the next floor of trials
by quickly heading to the next floor.
But occasionally, there was another type of trial that is similar to the one Su-hyeun
was at now.
A bonus mission that could be taken up after the trial ended.
"Where's the end of this Colosseum?"
A fight that only had three battles.
Su-hyeun thought it was boring.
All his stats had increased, and now that he had his magic awakened, fighting would
be a lot easier.
It was a pity to stop here. Also, it was apparent that the trial's achievement level
would get higher after clearing and getting more bonus missions.
No words were needed for the rewards. Plus, Su-hyeun was taking on level 10 of the
trial at the moment.
Su-hyeun took on the Colosseum's next challenge.
And the one after.
And…
[You have cleared stage 10 of the first floor.]
[There is nothing else after this.]
[You have flawlessly cleared the first trial.]
[You will be ranked according to your achievement.]
[You are ranked first.]

[All stats have been increased by 1 point.]
[Your magic factor has been increased by 2 points.]
[Your magic level has increased by 1 level.]
"Pant, pant—"
Su-hyeun looked at the great wolf that was the size of a bull lying on the floor.
This wolf, whose whole body had been raked, was called the "Raked Wolf." It was a
monster that had relatively keen senses.
It was hard for even a skilled magic awakener to deal with this beast, and it appeared
on the first floor of the trials.
"I wondered what happened."
He did expect that it wouldn't be easy when he decided to clear all the 10 stages on
the first floor.
But never did he expect to meet the Raked Wolf on the first floor.
"But still…”
As tough as it was, the reward was bountiful.
It was a given to be ranked first in the trials' ranking. Su-hyeun was also ranked first
in most of the records in his past life.
But he never expected to be able to gain a magic level of 2 on just the first floor.
"Status."
[Magic Factor: 8] [Magic Level: 2]

[Fatigue: 55]
His overall stats had increased tremendously.
One would not have thought that he had just cleared the first floor of the trials.
This situation surpassed his expectations much more than he had imagined.
"Should I continue on to the second floor now?"
Su-hyeun shook his head at the sudden thought which surfaced in his mind.
"No. Let's stop here for today."
He could not ignore his level of fatigue now.
He needed enough rest, had used his achievement points, and was required to
maintain himself. Furthermore, he could not ignore the reality.
"I'm returning."
[Your qualifications are distinct.]
[You have cleared the first floor.]
[You will now exit the Tower of Trials.]
The world before Su-hyeun's eyes changed once again.
Cut, cut, cut, cut.
Boiling, boiling.
As Su-hyeun stepped into the now-familiar room, he heard sounds coming from the
living room — the sounds of soup boiling and some excellent cutting skills.
Su-hyeun opened his room door and went out to the living room.
"Oh, son, you were home?"
Shin Su-yeong, who was preparing dinner, turned around.
Su-hyeun nodded his head slightly and looked at the food set on the dining table. He
was at a loss for words.
"Pork rib stew, stir-fried mix vegetable noodles, and bean paste soup… Why did you
prepare so much?"
Although the house was small, the dining table had a sumptuous feast that would
make many feel envious. Just by looking at it, one could tell it was a feast that needed
a lot of preparations.
"My son just got discharged, so of course I have to prepare this much."
"Didn't you just come back from work?"
"That's right. The soup is almost ready, so take a seat. I'll get you a bowl of rice."
"It's alright. I'll get it myself."
Su-hyeun checked small the wall clock hung on one side of the living room. It had
been well after 10PM.
Shin Su-yeong arrived back home after work at around 9PM.
If it were other families, their son would be eating alone at this time. Nevertheless, it
seemed that Shin Su-yeong had been preparing dinner that late into the night every
day after work.
As soon as the soup was done, Su-hyeun got his bowl of rice and sat down at the
dining table. They turned on the television and started their meal.
—Recently, there has been an increase in the number of dungeons. When comparing
the first-time dungeons that appeared back in 2013, in 2018, it was discovered that
the number has multiplied by threefold.
As expected, the issues raised in the news recently were about dungeons and
magical awakeners. As it was something Su-hyeun was used to, he did not show
much interest in it.
"Aren't you fascinated at it?"
"What about?"
Su-hyeun focused on his meal and replied to Shin Su-yeong's question in a mundane
manner.
If she asked about fascination, his answer was predetermined. To him, it was his
daily life and lifestyle.
"Suddenly monsters and people with weird supernatural powers are appearing.
These only came out in the comics and stuff that you liked when you were young."
"Well, it has now come to reality."
That's right. It had become a reality.
—Meanwhile, the prices of energy sources and ether stones found in the dungeons
continue to skyrocket due to its wide variety of uses. Though some people
mentioned the dangers of the phenomenal dungeon outbreak, it still has had a
positive impact on our society…
Of course, the reality wasn't as hopeful as what was reported on the television.
"It wasn't hope, but more of desperation."
This happiness would not go on for long.
The dungeons that came to the world with a hopeful image would soon change into a
huge disaster.
Knowing this fact, Su-hyeun could not accept the news that this was being reported
as a trivial story.
They ended their meal, and Su-hyeun pushed Shin Su-yeong into her room, saying
that he would do the dishes.
Su-hyuen went back into his room after he finished doing the dishes.
Creak—
"Mom, I've finished doing the."
Su-hyeun's voice turned softer.
During that short time, Shin Su-yeong fell asleep while lying against the wardrobe.
It seemed that she was quite exhausted, seeing that she might not have known how
she fell asleep.
Su-hyeun looked quietly at the sleeping Shin Su-yeong before spotting a folded
blanket on the side and covering her with it.
"Mother."
Looking at her face, his insides turned.
He still felt awkward at that term. Even though he had decided to live as Su-hyeun, he
nevertheless felt some awkwardness.
But…
Of course, it would be hard for anyone to understand why her devotion to Su-hyeun
was so great.
"Just wait a while more."
He wanted to repay as much as he had received.
Even though it was a devotion that wasn't directed entirely at him…
The end of this devotion must not lead to the end of this world.
"Even though I can't become your real son…” he thought while he closed his eyes and
held her hands.
"I'll definitely make you happy."
Certainly.
He would not have anyone die under his watch.

Shin Su-yeong woke up late from her sleep. In the wee hours of the morning, dawn
had just started to break.
"When did I fall asleep?"
She rubbed her blurry eyes and looked around her.
Got to do the laundry and clean the floor… House chores are piling up like a
mountain. But —
"Oh?"
The room was clean.
The untidy pile of clothes had been neatly folded and the floor had been cleaned
without a single strand of hair left behind. The piling trash can in the living room had
been emptied as well.
"You're awake?"
Shin Su-yeong turned around.
Su-hyeun was carrying a change of clothes and a bag. Shin Su-yeong, in turn, spoke to
Su-hyeun while she looked inside the recently cleaned room.
"You did all this?"
"The cleaning?"
"Yeah."
"Since you were sleeping, I didn't want to wake you up. I didn't know where to put
the laundry, so I just left it aside. Please do it later. The toilet was dirty, so I cleaned it
as well."
Shin Su-yeong stared blankly with a loss for words. Although he did occasionally
clean the floor and do simple household chores, she never thought that her son
would clean up the house so neatly while she was asleep.
"There's nothing much left for me to do."
It seemed that she could sleep more before heading to work.
"But son, where are you heading at this hour? Do you have plans?"
"I'm heading to the library."
"The library?"
"Yes. I might stay at my friend's house for the night, too. My phone will be turned off,
but don't worry."
"To study?"
"Yes. I have to attend university."
It was a lame excuse, but there were no other excuses that he could come up with.
Su-hyeun scratched his head and turned away.
"Well, I'll be back." Su-hyeun put on his shoes and headed out.
Shin Su-yeong looked out into the dark, early morning sky where the sun had yet to
rise and muttered.
"Oh my, what is going on?"
It might have been too much to go back to sleep immediately.
Trudge, trudge.
5AM in the morning. It was dark out on the streets. It was quiet outside except for
the sounds of a few people who started work early in the morning.
"I should start studying for a bit."

Since he used studying as an excuse, he couldn't help but do it.
"Although I won't need it much."
Anyway, he did more than enough studying in his past life.
He had been admitted into a reasonably respectable university and still remembered
a fair bit from those times. It had been a short-term investment while he was
recovering from his fatigue.
"Before that…”
Slide—
Su-hyeun headed into a deserted alley. The narrow alley wasn't hard to find, as this
was an area where few people lived. He came up with the excuse of going to the
library to explain his long absences, but actually, he had something else to do.
"Ha. What am I even doing?"
He wasn't a criminal, but found himself pathetic to be hiding away in a place like this.
"I had to hide it immediately, so I had no choice."
It had only been a few years since the appearance of magical awakeners and
dungeons. As precious as each magical awakener was, great attention was also given
to every new magical awakener.
Therefore, moving on with the Tower on Trials in the middle of the streets would
only garner more attention.
"I would never be able to go back again."
Su-hyeun reached out and shook his head clear when he thought about where he
belonged in his past life.
Rip—
Su-hyeun's grasp tore a space in the air. The entrance to the Tower of Trials appeared
before him. The gigantic tower could be seen once he stepped in.
Step, step—
He had become familiar with the route towards the tower. Su-hyeun could now pass
the doors without any hesitation.
The landscape turned white before him and was recolored once again, revealing a
completely different scene. Regardless of how many times he had crossed the
entrance to the tower, he would always find this change fascinating.
[Welcome to the Tower of Trials.]
The message appeared in his mind.
Su-hyeun stood in the middle of the vast city, where people were walking in the
square around the lake.
"Tower of Trials."
In the outside world, it was known as "The Abyss."
Different from its dark and dreary title, this world was quite habitable. One could live
considerably well without having to clear the floors of the tower.
"It's a nice place."
Compared to the nearly destroyed future, the world now was very much better to
live in.
"Because of that day, the Day of Selection…”
Su-hyeun shook his head. It was too far into the future to think about it now. Instead,
now he had to resolve issues and prepare for the Day of Selection.
Step, step—
Su-hyeun immediately headed to a large department store located outside of the

square. It was composed of a dwellers who did not appear to have any items on
display, but the place was clearly meant to be a store.
A voice piped up while Su-hyeun walked in. "What are you here for?"
A beautiful lady with black hair, soft skin, and a slender jawline gained Su-hyeun's
attention.
"If you're here to buy stuff, come here. Are you looking for anything in particular?"
Su-hyeun looked at her.
What a charming lady. Su-hyeun knew just who she was.
Dark Elf Velly. One of the merchants found on the second floor of the Tower of Trials
selling skill books.
Dark Elf was a nickname that was widely known amongst the magical awakeners.
Although Velly was not an elf, it meant that her beauty was equivalent to one.
Su-hyeun walked towards Velly's calling. Velly leaned her face and body up close to
Su-hyeun.
"Is this your first time?"
"What about it?"
"It's my first time seeing you, but your eyes don't seem so. It's as if you've returned
to someplace familiar."
"Don't mind me. Just think of me as a passing customer."
"How snippy. So, what are you looking for? I usually sell skill books. If you're not
looking for anything in particular, shall I show you the whole list?"
Su-hyeun looked at her seductive appearance from the bottom up. It wouldn't be
weird if anyone were to commit an impulse purchase to win her favor. It seems that
many stupid customers would fall for this.
Those stupid customers would not live for long. Su-hyeun ignored Velly's gaze and
spoke.
"Do you sell the transfiguration skill?"
“…Sell what?"
Velly's eyes turned small with Su-hyeun's question. With that change in expression,
Su-hyeun was able to confirm that he had found the right place.
"I don't want to go around in circles finding it."
Su-hyeun bent down to meet Velly's eyes. Velly pulled back and distanced herself
from him.
"How much is it? I'm looking for it."
"I do have it… But why are you looking for it?"
"Because I need it."
"And you can afford it? Even if it costs a whopping 1,000 points?"
1,000 points. A ridiculous amount for someone who just cleared the first floor. It was
rare to gain stats or achievement points at the first level, especially since it was just a
level to be cleared for formality's sake.
"Even so, the transfiguration skill is only accessible for those with magic level 2.
You're just a newbie who recently cleared the first floor……”
"Stop your nagging and give it to me. I have the 1,000 points."
"What?"
"Give it to me."
Velly considered Su-hyeun's request for a moment and slowly took out a book.
"Here it is. The transfiguration skill book."
"Thanks."
Su-hyeun took the book from Velly. At the same time:
[You have used 1,000 achievement points.]
The achievement points which he had accumulated were gone. Although there were
still some left, most of them were used.
"What are you?"
"What?"
"Are you sure you've just cleared the first floor? You were looking for the
transfiguration skill, and you already had that many points as well…”
"Stop being nosy. I won't be staying here for long, either."
"What?"
"Forget it. Give me the leap skill. It's 150 points, right?"
“…Are you really supposed to be on the second floor?"
Velly looked suspiciously at Su-hyeun. But still took out the leap skill book and
handed it to him.
Soon, her expression changed into curiosity, much like when he first met her. Su-
hyeun judged that Velly must have known the value of the transfiguration skill.
Indeed, she's not a normal lady.
How did she come to live here? All dwellers here had their own unique story to tell.
Velly probably had something similar.
"I'm off."
Su-hyeun walked into another store and bought some simple equipment.
To move equipment from the Tower of Trials a separate item was needed, one
different from skills. But that item was not available to purchase on the second floor,
so the equipment that Su-hyeun had got to use was quite a steal.
"It's not bad for this much."
A total of 200 achievement points.
Add another 100 points for dry rations, bandages, medication, and more.
The remaining 700 points were used to purchase a low-grade mana catalyst.
"Appraisal."
[Transfiguration Skill.]
-Magic level: 2
-LV: 1
-Can mimic a specific target's physical ability. Depending on the transfiguration level,
the level of imitating the opponent will increase.
[Leap.]
-Magic level: 2
-Ability: 0.
-Able to do one more leap in the air. Depending on the ability, the number of leaps
and height will increase.
These were the two skills bought from Velly. They were the two most useful skills
known to Su-hyeun on the second floor.
"It was an excellent choice to purchase transfiguration skill."
A skill worth 1,000 achievement points.
In fact, it was almost impossible to obtain it. The person whom Su-hyeun knew to
have gotten this skill appeared only 10 years later. That person was a magical
awakener who chose the ninth level, and like Su-hyeun, had out-performed when
clearing the first floor.
Although he used up 1,000 points in one go, he didn't find it to be a waste.
"Level-dependent skill."
Unlike the leap skill, which was determined by ability, the transfiguration skill was
determined by magic level. A skill's required magic level was the minimum needed
to learn it, and at the same time, it referred to its own level as well.
Of course, it was a skill that showed excellent efficiency anytime, anywhere,

regardless of the level. It was similar to the leap skill in that it could perform
evasions and deceptions in various situations.
But most of the skills were not like that. Thus, this level-dependent skill was one that
many magical awakeners would kill to have while they ascended the tower.
"Still, I have no use for it now."
He was prepared to the best of his ability. Su-hyeun used 50 points to purchase a
small pouch to contain his rations and some thin armor that would not hinder his
movement.
He had used up all his achievement points gained from the first floor — it was all to
achieve even better performance on the next floor.
"Before that, first…”
Su-hyeun went to book his accommodation. All the tower's dwellers used
achievement points as currency. The remaining small amount of achievement points
were used to rent a place for himself.
Click—
Su-hyeun stepped in and placed the sword and spear, which were slung over his
shoulder, in a corner. He then pulled out the violet-colored bottle from the small
pouch hung around his waist.
[Low-grade mana catalyst.]
-Mana catalyst diluted with distilled water. Depending on the user's level, it
permanently amplifies the magic level and factor.
Such a slipshod explanation for an item that could make one waste 700 points if
misused.
In fact, it was common to see many magical awakeners who wanted high magic
factor to not see much effect after taking the catalyst. Because of this, the catalysts
were often described as a lottery amongst magical awakeners.
"Strictly speaking, they aren't lotteries."
But now, Su-hyeun did not even have an item like this.
Pop—
Su-hyeun sat down and immediately opened the catalyst's lid.

Gulp, gulp—
As if downing a hot drink, the feeling of the catalyst flowing down his esophagus was
intense. Su-hyeun put the empty bottle down beside him. He could feel the same
intensity that he had felt when he first had the low-grade mana catalyst.
Focus, focus. Like a spell, he chanted it twice in his mind. From now on, the value of
the catalyst would vary depending on how focused he was. The 700 points which he
spent might be for naught if there was no effect, but on the contrary, it could also
worth thousands of points.
Wriggle—
The catalyst that went into his body started reacting. It was the real deal now.
Rumble, rumble—
Sizzle—
The magic's build started growing after reacting with the catalyst. Its properties did
not change. If it did change, it would have meant that the magic level had increased.
Greed was taboo. Instead of the properties, it was more important to focus on the
maximum amount of mana, which in this case was the magic factor.
[Your magic factor has increased by 1 point.]
[Your magic factor has increased by 1 point.]
[Your magic factor…]
As the magic properties increased, the magic factor increased as well. Su-hyeun tried
to ignore the message that popped up in his head. If he lost focus now, all that he had
done up until now would have been for nothing.
Tch—
Rumble, rumble—
At that moment, some changes were visible in the magic properties. Now is the time.
Although he tried not to be greedy, the situation changed. The effect of the catalyst
was beyond his expectations. Su-hyeun quickly focused on the remaining catalyst.
The magic properties changed rapidly in response to it. The color changed slowly
from one to another until it was one of a better grade.
The results.
[Your magic level has increased by 1.]
Compared to the first time, the effect had exceeded expectations.
"Huuuu—" After the last message popped up, Su-hyeun let go of his breath, which he
had held for so long. At the same time, he let go of his concentration, and the magic
that gathered at the catalyst had dissipated.
But the magic that had undergone change once would not change anymore. After
sweating it out, Su-hyeun laid on the floor. As expected… It's tiring.
Extreme concentration brought severe fatigue. As his vision blurred, all his energy
left his body. He needed to rest.
Great. Awesome. Unlike the fatigue in his body, Su-hyeun's mind was feeling quite
refreshed. Magic level of 3. On top of that, he also attained a magic factor of 16. The
maximum amount of mana had definitely changed. Not only that, but the magic
properties had also increased to a higher level.
I'll rest for awhile… Su-hyeun took smaller breaths and closed his eyes.
And move on to the next floor.
Act 4
Su-hyeun headed out to the square after taking a rest. The second floor of the Tower
of Trials was a city so vast it was as if it had no end. In the city existed several
squares, and most of the squares had portals that were linked to the upper floors.
"Looking for people to challenge the third floor! Willing to compromise on the level!"
"Cleared level 5 challenger attempting level 4! 2-person party, looking for one more
to join!"
It was as if looking at a scene from a game. There were those who were reluctant to
head up to the next floor on their own. They introduced themselves and started to
look for parties to head up with.
"Are you going up to the next floor?" An amiable looking young man appeared beside
Su-hyeun. He looked almost the same age as Su-hyeun. It seemed like he, too, would
like to challenge the next floor.
"I want to go to level 8. Do you want to join? You seem to be quite skillful, judging by
your equipment."
Level 8. A fairly high-level challenger. Seeing that the young man was as well-
equipped as Su-hyeun himself, it seemed that he had passed the first floor with a
high performance.
Where have I met him before? Su-hyeun did not answer immediately, but instead
scrutinized his face — it looked familiar. Soon, Su-hyeun was able to recall where he
had seen the young man.
Choi Hak-joon.
He was labeled as a genius amongst the promising magical awakeners at a certain

point in time. Unfortunately, he had lost his life in an accident. He had seen him a few
times before, but he did not look this young even then. More accurately, it wasn't just
his face that was different.
His aura feels different. The Hak-joon he remembered was not this affectionate and
sociable. Even his expression was different. That was why Su-hyeun couldn't
recognize him at first.
Some events had caused people to change, and it seemed that it was before the
accident happened. That accident… which guild's extermination was it?
The accident was the wipeout of the guild that he was in. It was a relatively large
guild, and the future Hak-joon was a highly skilled magical awakener. News of a guild
being wiped out was the talk of the town. Strictly speaking, it wasn't strange if one
had enemies amongst the magical awakeners. Hak-joon was finally acquitted when
the relationship between him, the guild, and the syndicate came to light.
Level 8… Although he did challenge a higher level, Su-hyeun shook his head.
"I'm sorry." Hak-joon smiled awkwardly with a look of regret on his face at Su-
hyeun's refusal.
"Haha. It's quite a high difficulty, isn't it? If I can't get anyone to join me today, I might
have to head up on my own."
Most would not bother to challenge level 8. It was because the moment one cleared
level 5, the subsequent levels' difficulty would increase exponentially. Hak-joon
thought that it was because of the high difficulty that Su-hyeun had to consider
joining him. But it was actually the opposite, and Su-hyeun did not bother to explain.
"Don't you want to lower the difficulty?" Su-hyeun became curious about the man
standing before him. As Hak-joon passed on too early, he never had the chance to
talk to him. On top of that, the Hak-joon he remembered wasn't such an amiable
person.
Something must have triggered a change in him. Exactly what had made him change?
Hak-joon answered Su-hyeun's question. "I don't."
"Why must you challenge level 8 then?"
"The higher levels seem to be a lot tougher…”
"Isn't level 8 of a high difficulty as well?"
"Of course, it is."
"But why?"
"Well…” Hak-joon shook his head to avoid answering the question.
"It's nothing. If it's tough for you, I'll just go by myself." Su-hyeun also had no
intention of forcing an answer from him. Eventually, Su-hyeun left Hak-joon and
went into the square.
Hoping to find others who would join him, Hak-joon approached some others who
were equipped well enough. Others had also expressed interest, but only for a while.
Although some saw Su-hyeun's equipment and approached him to clear the levels
together, he rejected them all.
No one would want to attempt level 10, right? Even if there was someone, he
wouldn't want to do it together.
Chuck—
Su-hyeun went into the portal located in the center of the square. His vision turned
white, and he felt his body float in the air. Soon, a message appeared in his mind.
[Kim Su-hyeun, your second-floor trial starts now.]
[Choose the level of difficulty.]
[1~10 Lv.]
[The difficulty gets higher as you go up the levels. The reward after you clear the
level would also get better.]
His decision had already been made. "Level 10."
Although he could choose the level of difficulty at each floor, Su-hyeun had already
decided on the difficulty himself. High risks, high returns. This absolute principle
would never fail on its own.
[Level 10. The second-floor trial will begin.]
The white space in Su-hyeun's eyes was colored again. The landscape and the
temperature on his skin changed. It was not clear if the surroundings changed with
Su-hyeun in the center, or if he fell into another world. But this feeling was not bad.
Su-hyeun observed his surroundings.
Caw, caw—!
Hwing—!
There were the calls of some unknown species of birds and a chilly wind blowing.
Before he knew it, Su-hyeun was standing in the middle of the deep forest.
[The trial begins now.]
[You are being pursued. Your opponents are the Shayres, a species that dominates
this forest.]
[You must take the Shayres' treasure and escape from the forest. If it is stolen or if
you die, you will fail this trial.]
[Survive.]
[Protect the treasure.]
As soon as the message ended, a necklace appeared in Su-hyeun's hands. He didn't

know when he started carrying the necklace. It was most likely the treasure that was
mentioned before. The treasure of Shayres.
He knew what species they were. Although they were categorized as a species, the
magical awakeners identified them as monsters that moved in tribes.
Hunter-type monsters. They were excellent at tracking. It definitely would not be

easy trying to escape from them in this dense forest. Although the Shayres did not
have exceptional physical abilities, they were hard to deal with, especially for
someone who was just about to take on the second floor's challenge.
Click—
Su-hyeun wore the necklace that he was holding onto. There was no effect from it. It
didn't look like a treasure at all. It could also be that only after clearing the trial that
the necklace show its effect.
It would have been better if the necklace were sealed. Sealed items had a far better
effect than ordinary objects. Treasure of the Shayres…
Crack, caw—!
Caw—!
A terrible cry could be heard from somewhere within the woods. It was the cry of a
Shayre. It seemed outraged by the fact that its treasure had disappeared.
"It seems to be quite angry." Su-hyeun grinned.
Protect the treasure, escape, and survive. Now he clearly understood the objective of
this trial. If so…”Forget about escaping."
Step, step—
Su-hyeun started walking towards the Shayres' cries. I'll face them head-on.
A monster with an oval-shaped face, no facial features, and white skin appeared
before him. The Shayres were quite intelligent monsters. While their physical
abilities were not particularly outstanding, they were civilized and moved in groups,
which made them a species that was quite difficult to deal with.
Crr, crrr—
Caw, caw—!
The Shayres were outraged. The reason was simple: their treasure had disappeared.
Tens of Shayres sat on the trees above and looked at one side of the forest. The
treasure was nearby; the Shayres knew this because a unique scent had been
sprayed on the necklace for them to track it easily.
Crr, crack—
It was him. The human who had stolen their treasure. The human was coming closer
— not escaping, but returning again? It was weird.
The Shayres were intelligent creatures. There was no way that the human would
return here without any reason. But even so, they would not be scared enough of just
one human being to retreat.
Creak, creak—
The leader of the Shayres raised his hand. The others widened their formation and
got prepared. It was not for pursuit, but to prepare for defense. The culprit would
soon enter their territory.
Step, step—
The human walked in slowly. He wore thin armor and had a sword and spear slung
over his shoulders. He was strolling. Su-hyeun greeted the Shayres.
"I've heard that you are the predators in this part of the forest." Su-hyeun spoke as he
held the sword and spear in each of his hands. "So…”
Crr—?
Unable to understand Su-hyeun, the Shayres' leader tilted his head to one side. At
that moment —
Sleek—
Plop—!
The spear came flying and pierced the Shayre leader's head into the tree. As soon as
they were angered, Su-hyeun raised his sword. "From now on, I will change the
predators of this forest."
The night grew deeper in the forest.
Shuffle, shuffle—
The forest shook in an uproar. Countless shadows were in pursuit of one human.
Creak, creak—!
Squeal—!
The Shayres pulled their bows with a lunatic cry. And at that moment:
Snap, snap—
Su-hyeun lightly stepped on a few branches. He was waiting for that moment.
Swoosh—!
The arrows flew in Su-hyeun's direction, but they couldn't hit him. As the thin
branches snapped, Su-hyeun's body bounced upwards.
Plat—
He had used the Leap skill. The unexpected movement got the flustered Shayre to
take off.
Slash—!
The Shayre's throat was slashed and bright red blood came gushing out like a
fountain.
Wooong—
Plat, plat—
Su-hyeun moved fast. He focused the magic on his legs and was able to move around
in the forest's complicated terrain freely. Even the Shayres, who dominated the
forest, were unable to catch up to him.
Caw, caw—!
The Shayres panicked as half of their tribe was lost. They had to run. They were not
the hunters. At this moment, the hunter was Su-hyeun. But…
Jingle—
"Going to run?" Su-hyeun said as he showed them the necklace on his neck. The
Shayres turned furious upon seeing the necklace, though they did not understand his
words. The remaining Shayres headed towards Su-hyeun in unison. They probably
realized that bows would not work on Su-hyeun, who could leap into the air. "Of
course. That's right."
Pssh—
Plop—!
The spear in Su-hyeun's hand pierced through the forthcoming Shayre's head.
"There's no need to drag it on any further……”
Pick, pick—
Tung—
Su-hyeun slashed the two Shayres near him and leaped to get to the Shayres that
were in the distance.
"Let's finish up quickly."
Slash—!
He slashed the last Shayre.

[Your strength has increased by 1 point.]
Drip, drip—
His blood dripped on the floor and covered his body. The tension in Su-hyeun eased
and fatigue came over him. "Huuu—"
He lost count of how many tribes there were. The numbers were increasing. There's
no end to them.
Although it was a level 10 trial, not all the rewards were equivalent to the effort put
in the trials. Su-hyeun had the first-hand experience of clearing the level with better
than expected performance, where the reward was even more bountiful than usual.
Su-hyeun had thought about it when he started the second floor's trial here. If the
purpose was to run away from the Shayres and survive without losing the treasure…
It would end if the Shayres were wiped out, regardless of how long it took. It was
best to get the highest reward possible if he were to continue challenging the level
10 trials for each floor. To do that, Su-hyeun did not run from the Shayres, but chose
to face them head-on instead.
The numbers are slowly increasing. No, it wasn't just the numbers. Even amongst the
Shayres, there were the strong and the weak. Not only were their numbers
increasing, but their level was also getting higher as well.
I'll stop here for today. His fatigue level was increasing. Not only had his stamina
reached its limits, but the magic that he had been cherishing was also nearly used up.
It wasn't a trial that could be cleared in a day or two. One also needed to know when
to stop and take a rest to complete this long-running marathon.
Su-hyeun went into a nearby cave that he found. He could see light coming through
the ceiling as he entered the deep cave.
[You have entered a safe zone.]
[You are safe from attackers here.]
He had found a safe zone, also known as a neutral zone. It was first place Su-hyeun
entered after his fight with the Shayres. There were several other safe zones in
different types of trials. Although there were some trials where safe zones did not
exist, they were uncommon. Additionally, the safe zones were treated as separate
spaces, disconnected from the trial.
"Status."
[Magic Factor: 16] [Magic level: 3]
[Fatigue: 79]
The increase in the stats range was quite slow compared to the first floor, but Su-
hyeun thought that it was fast enough. As each stat increased, a vast difference could
be seen, and it also got harder to increase.
It was not advisable to become too ambitious. Although things seemed slow on the
second floor, it was imperative to increase his stats and magic factor steadily.
Fatigue has piled up, as expected… He needed to rest right now. Thankfully, it was a
trial without any time limit. Su-hyeun just couldn't focus on clearing the floors now.
"It's better to head back." There was no reason for him not to take a rest here. Su-
hyeun reached his hand out.
Rip—!
Once again, Su-hyeun opened the door back to reality.
It was late at night in reality. Su-hyeun hurried down the mountain and headed
home. Although he was exhausted from fighting all day, he had no intention of
worrying Shin Su-yeong.
11PM. It was nearly time for the library to close. As Su-hyeun turned on his mobile
phone, a few missed calls from Shin Su-yeong popped up.
She must have been quite worried. He did tell her that he might stay out for the night
just in case, but of course, such words would not make her worry less.
Click—
Su-hyeun unlocked the door as he arrived home. The light in the living room was
turned on, but it was dead quiet.
"I'm home." Su-hyeun stood stiff at the entrance as he spoke in a small voice. Food
was laid on the dining table, and Shin Su-yeong was there asleep. How long did she
wait? Su-hyeun went to shake Shin Su-yeong's shoulder.
“…Mom. Sleep in your room."
"Mm… Umm… Son… You're back?" Shin Su-yeong asked as she rubbed her eyes and
stretched her back.
"Yes. Did you not eat?"
"I ate first since I was hungry. You'd better eat, too."
"Okay. Go to bed first."
"No. I'll have to do the dishes and the floor…”
"I'll do it. Hurry." Su-hyeun adamantly pushed Shin Su-yeong into her room. Although
Su-hyeun had been taking mixed grains and dry food to keep himself satisfied, he
could not turn away from Shin Su-yeong's food.
He finished his meal and did the dishes. He even cleaned the floor thoroughly, took a
shower, and returned to his room.
Whirl—
The old computer turned on with a loud whirl. It took quite a while to boot up.
Click—
Su-hyeun opened the Internet browser and searched "Abyss Online." It was a
representative site for magical awakeners that had over a million members. Of
course, most of them were ordinary people. In fact, the site was for the public to be
updated about news related to magical awakeners and not meant solely for the
magical awakeners themselves. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry is here.
Su-hyeun grinned after checking out some of the articles on the main page. He knew
even just by reading the headlines whether the author was a real magical awakener
or he was just trying to show off.
2018 October. Su-hyeun took out a notebook that was stuck in the corner of his desk.
He took a pen and recorded today's date.
What I have to change. What I must not change. What I must achieve.
Complicated thoughts filled his mind. In the past month, he did not waste his time
while he was hospitalized. He was organizing his future plans in his mind during that
time. He worked hard to not forget the future events. The final goal was Fafnir.
Firstly, the fourth floor is my target. In 2018, around this time, the appearances of
magical awakeners were not a public issue. The dungeons appeared and were swiftly
dealt with by the awakeners, and the resources collected were treated as new energy
and raw materials for social development.
But as time passed, the monsters in the dungeons became more robust for the
awakeners to deal with alone.
"Thankfully… it's still manageable now." The atmosphere on the Abyss Online was
lively. There were many humor-related posts, and some were related to ranked
awakeners. There was even an article about a celebrity's awakening on the bulletin
board.
It's almost like entertainment.
Up until now, the appearance of dungeons and awakeners was nothing but the start
of a new topic in society.
A dungeon attack led by top-notch awakeners was filmed on-air and boasted a
dramatic amount of viewership — its popularity did not lose out to any celebrities or
politicians. Abyss Online became a platform for people to communicate with their
favorite awakener, much like a fan cafe.
It was clear that the dungeons had yet to become a huge social issue. Until now, that
is.
One of the reasons why Su-hyeun wanted to check out the posts on Abyss Online was
to gather information on the current events between the dungeons and awakeners
around the world.
Even at this period, Su-hyeun was not an awakener. Naturally, he wasn't aware of the
happenings in this period; if he did, it was vague.
"There are no visible problems right now……” Su-hyeun sent a couple of links to his
email. "But there were still some catches."
Although there's no way to verify them now, there were signs that something was
about to happen. As he read some tabloids and posts, he began to recall some
memories from before. Amongst them was some information that he wasn't aware
of. Meanwhile…
[A divinity appeared on the second floor of the Tower of Trials.]
Shivers went down his spine. A new post appeared. Su-hyeun clicked on it with
doubts in his mind.
Title: A Divinity Appeared on the Second Floor
Content: 2,230 points lolololololol is this possible? What did he do to get that record
on the second floor?
—no no how did he get 2,230 points on the second floor lolololololol
—how many points can you get from the first floor?
└ probably 940 points?
—no. you can check the rank in the northern square. A rookie named kim su-hyeun
was ranked first.
An exploding reaction.
One could even get his face on the main page if the reaction was this huge. The click
count was already in the ten thousands. And one of the comments under that post…
—I'm Kim Min-soo, an awakener from the Blue Dragon Guild. Kim Su-hyeun, if you
are reading this, please contact me here. We at Blue Dragon…
—I'm Yoo Jung-gyu, an awakener from the Ares Guild. If you're reading this post…
There was a message left for him. Groups that were centered on the awakeners were
interested in "Kim Su-hyeun," who appeared on the second floor.
Are they fostering new clan members? Some awakeners created guilds through
mutual cooperation. They were a kind of faction; they were also created for more
effective dungeon attacks.
Having a great awakening was also directly connected to the guild's status and
power. As a result, guilds also recruited awakeners and even trained budding rookie
awakeners.
Blue Dragon, Paradise, Association… Quite a number came.
Though he thought this would happen, the reaction came earlier than expected. Not
even a day had passed and there was already a post about him.
True, the points themselves were quite ridiculous.
The person who ranked first before Su-hyeun had recorded 940 points. Since the
difference between the first and second place was huge, it was expected that the
appearance of divinity would appeal to many.
Still, there is a difference between the present and the future.
In the future, a system was made to optimize data compiled on awakeners who were
heading to the next floor. It was the result of a long period of countless guilds and
organizations studying the awakeners. But that system had not been created in this
world yet.
In fact, if anyone who challenged from the second floor onwards recorded 1,000
points, it would be of note to them. Even if it were the same floor, the standard would
be different.
This isn't good.
Su-hyeun did not want his name to be known so soon. If his name were made known,
problems would become inevitable; additionally, he did not want to worry Shin Su-
yeong too much.
There are not many benefits.
No matter how amateur an awakener was, there was something for one to benefit
from by joining a guild. The resources and items related to the Tower of Trials would
be of enormous help. But to Su-hyeun, that information was not required. Instead,
they needed help from him.
"There's not much they could tell just by my name……”
He ignored it for now. Su-hyeun had no intention to join any organization or guild
from the start. Su-hyeun ideally wanted to be a mercenary soldier, not belonging
anywhere.
It was best for him since he knew about the future. Su-hyeun, who had decided his
path, turned off the computer and went to bed. Now, what he needed most was not a
guild, but rest.
Act 5
Kim Su-hyeun. The name that excited many guilds. The second floor's new awakener,
who just stepped into the tower. It wasn't enough for the guilds to notice someone
usually; instead, it was because of his record and ranking.
"Hak-joon, do you know of a guy named Kim Su-hyeun?" Ares Guild's leader, Jung
Dong-yeong, asked.
Hak-joon, who sat on the hard sofa in a spacious office, shook his head. "I don't."
"Really? I heard that he just entered the second floor like you."
"The second floor is so vast. Although it's incomparable to the upper floors, what
would the probability be of me meeting a certain person in that vast city?"
"Hmm, is that so?" Jung Dong-yeong lightly smacked his lips. It seemed that he was
also coveting for the new awakener, Kim Su-hyeun. Hak-joon could easily sense that.
"So, what happened to the third floor's attack?" Jung Dong-yeong asked again after
organizing his thoughts.
Hak-joon was one of the new awakeners that the Ares Guild was supporting. They
were supporting him with various information as well as equipment. He had the
talent and had already proven it on the first floor. He, too, knew that he was
supported by the Ares Guild.
"There's no one suitable to join me yet. If I can't get someone by tomorrow, I might
have to head up myself."
"Really? Good. If you maintain this, just head up till the tenth floor. Until then, we'll
give you our full support."
"Okay."
"You know what to do next, right?" Hak-joon closed his eyes and nodded at Jung
Dong-yeong's question.
Of course he knew. How could he not know? He had been asked countless times. Did
Jung Dong-yeong like the obedient Hak-joon? Jung Dong-yeong put on a satisfied
expression and waved his hand.
"Go on. Let's go over it again a week from now. If possible, try to beat Kim Su-hyeun."
"I got it." Hak-joon slightly bowed his head and hurried out the office.
Kim Su-hyeun, Kim Su-hyeun… The name was left in his head. At the same time, a
familiar face appeared in his mind.
Could it be him? The guy whom he approached to join hands together. Hak-joon had
a sudden thought that he might be Kim Su-hyeun.
He couldn't be. Even if he was right, there was no way to verify. Hak-joon shook his
head.
No other thoughts were needed. He just had to focus on his goal now. Now, he was
exhausted just looking after himself.
Plat, plat, plat—
Swoosh—
Countless arrows fell overhead like rain. To avoid them, Su-hyeun hid behind a tree.
Pababak—!
Pong, pong—!
Due to some of the Shayres' special items or energy, a few arrows made a large hole
in a tree, but Su-hyeun was no longer behind the tree that they were targeting.
Swoosh—!
Su-hyeun sneaked up on the Shayre who had used magic and slashed its neck using
the sword in his hand. This was the priority of a fight: when there was one that used
magic, exterminate it immediately. Su-hyeun was reminded of it the moment he
encountered them.
Creak, creak—!
Squeal—!
With a grotesque cry, the Shayres drew their swords. Su-hyeun distanced himself
from the Shayres and looked at the gigantic Shayre standing amongst them.
The Shayres' chief.
The ruler of this vast forest.
It looked at Su-hyeun with terrified eyes. The Shayres here were the remaining ones
who survived after a month-long battle. If they were considered seasoned troops, the
Shayre chief was the final boss of this trial.
"Why don't you fight me head-on?"
Though he did not expect it to understand his words, he was confident that his
intention was conveyed. Sure enough, the Shayre chief raised its hand and walked
towards Su-hyeun.
Creak, creak—
Clang—
The Shayres that stood between their chief and Su-hyeun started murmuring. They
were possibly saying that there was no need for the chief to do it personally. But it
seemed the chief had no wishes to lose more men, and he asked them to step back as
he walked up to Su-hyeun.
Stomp, stomp—
The size of the nearing chief was enormous. Unlike a usual Shayre, who was a head
taller than a grown man, the chief had a build that was many times taller than Su-
hyeun. Furthermore, its body was entirely made of muscles.
"You should have done this earlier," Su-hyeun said, but he was glad to see such a
reaction from the chief.
I've waited for a long time.
It had been an entire month. Su-hyeun was buried in the second floor's trial while
moving between reality and the Tower of Trials during this period. It wasn't easy
meeting the Shayres' chief. Their chief was surrounded by numerous Shayres, and
the chief seemed to have no intention of taking the first action. Eventually, Su-hyeun
made the decision to wipe them all out.
Creak, creak—
The chief said something to Su-hyeun. Of course, Su-hyeun could not understand. But
he understood the gist of it.
"Are you saying that you'll avenge your men?"
Creak—
The chief nodded. Su-hyeun turned speechless. How did he understand my words
enough to nod his head?
He didn't understand why he was trying to communicate with a monster. Su-hyeun

sighed and picked up his sword. "Forget it…”
Pat, pat—
"I'm sick of this. Let's end it." Su-hyeun leaped and jumped a few flights of stairs in a
flash.
Zong-!
The chief's ax blocked Su-hyeun's sword. As his magic-filled sword and the chief's ax
struck, a sharp pain was left on Su-hyeun's grip.
Pat—!
The chief swung its ax again, this time passing by Su-hyeun's eyes.
Swish—
A thin cut. At the same time, Su-hyeun shrunk his body downwards.
Slash—
Stab, stab—
Su-hyeun's sword stabbed deep into the chief's shoulder.
Splash, splash—!
Su-hyeun stabbed the chief continuously, but none of his blows were deadly. If he got
ambitious, the chief's ax might still swing towards him if he wasn't careful.
Slowly, steadily. No matter how small the stabs were, if they accumulated, the chief
would eventually fall. If the opponent were superior in health, Su-hyeun would
merely crumble when going head-on. Thus, he needed a more flexible fight.
Roarrrr—!
The chief couldn't stand it any longer and had an outburst. At that moment, the chief
had gotten more agile. His pure white skin turned red.
Stomp—!
Soon enough, the chief dashed towards Su-hyeun and swung its ax widely.
Fwooom—!
Su-hyeun's body flew up as the strong wind ripped the still air. The faceless Shayre's
chief looked up following Su-hyeun's body. The chief stepped back and took out a
huge bow and arrow in its hands from behind.
Stretch—
The bowstring was stretched taut and aimed at Su-hyeun. A force was applied on the
bow, which was similar to the magic that awakeners use.
Twang—!
Swoooosh—!
The arrow flew at a terrifying speed too fast to avoid. However, Su-hyeun wasn't
looking at the chief's arrow, but its hand.
Boom—
Su-hyeun's body bounced forward. The repeated leap was not restricted to just
leaping upwards. It was possible to go in any direction one wanted.
"Bingo."
Screeeech—
A bow that he picked up from one of his previous fight was in his hands. Su-hyeun
held the bow at the chief's head the moment he reduced the distance between
himself and the chief.
Twang—!
Swooosh—
The arrow went flying as soon as the bowstring was released.
Stab—!
Kyaaaaaaa—!
The chief grabbed the arrow stuck in its head and screamed.
Swash, swash—
The other Shayres who were watching started to move. As it wasn't a fair fight from
the start, the Shayres came forward to protect their chief.
It was expected.
Pooot—
Su-hyeun grabbed the spear from behind him after releasing the arrow.
"I said to end this quickly, right?" This time, Su-hyeun's body became the bow. He
widely swung the spear and released it.
The magic filled spear smashed the chief's head. It was a moment when no other
Shayres could have helped. Suddenly:
[Your Health has increased by 1 point.]
[The Shayres have been defeated. There is no other enemy who can harm you.]
[You have perfectly passed the second floor's trial.]
[Your achievement will be ranked.]
[You are ranked first.]
[Your Strength has increased by 2 points.]
[Your Agility has increased by 1 point.]
[Your Reflex has increased by 1 point.]
[You have gained 25,000 achievement points.]
[Your Magic Factor has increased by 3 points.]
[You have obtained the Shayres' treasure.]

It was a pleasing message. Su-hyeun liked that the message said he had perfectly
cleared the trial. He was right to exterminate the Shayres.
The slowly increasing stats and magic factor had risen by a few points at once, as
well as his achievement points. Not to mention, he had obtained even more stats and
achievement points from battling the Shayres in the past month. Since the Leap
skill's mastery had increased, it wasn't a waste of time.
I've stayed for too long. Although he very much wanted to advance to the next floor,
there was something else he had to do.
Creak, creak—
Su-hyeun, who watched as the remaining Shayres escaped, looked back at their chief.
And…
"Transfiguration skill."
The moment he had been waiting for had arrived.
[The transfiguration skill will be used with the "Shayre Chief" as the target.]
[Some parts of the target's characteristics will be absorbed.]
[Trait: "Berserk" has been acquired.]
Berserk. Su-hyeun had known of its trait.
"A trait that increases the physical ability in proportion to one's fatigue, health, and
blood loss."
It was quite the useful trait. One's physical ability would naturally decrease as
fatigue and health got worse. But the berserk traits could reverse the effect
exponentially. It would be quite handy in times of emergency.
It was worthwhile learning the transfiguration skill, capturing the chief, and
obtaining this trait.
In the meantime, there's no need to change the trait.
The Shayre chief was a monster similar to the Shayre's boss. If it was the monster
boss's trait, a normal monsters' trait would be incomparable. If there was only one
trait that could be attained through the transfiguration skill, there would be no use
for others for the time being.
Anyway, I've been here for way too long.
It was only the second floor. There were many more floors to ascend. Although Su-
hyeun chose a higher difficulty level to receive better rewards, he could not continue
to stay on the lower floors.
Time to speed up. Su-hyeun increased his abilities while hunting the Shayres in the
past month. Although his magic level did not increase, his magic factor increased. His
stats, too, had been raised significantly, and he accumulated a large number of
achievement points.
He could get himself a few more useful skills with this amount of achievement
points. It would be much easier to climb the tower. In the next year.
Su-hyeun's eyes narrowed. The goal… tenth floor.
It was easier to make concrete plans with a clear goal. Su-hyeun quickly organized
his future plans and goals in his mind. The determined Su-hyeun finally spoke.
"Next." Su-hyeun immediately ascended to the third level. He had spent a month
there, as well as on the fourth and fifth floors. Su-hyeun ascended the floors without
rest. A year had passed.
Wednesday, December 7, 2019. It was a day that caught the hearts of many students.
There were some satisfied with their results after a long period of suffering, but
most were disappointed and frustrated.
It's alright. Su-hyeun headed out after verifying his results slip in the mail.
Eating out… It was rare for Su-hyeun and Shin Su-yeong to dine outside. If it were a
special day, Shin Su-yeong would prepare a fancy feast, but Su-hyeun would bring up
the excuse of studying and not make time for it.
But now he could no longer use that as an excuse. The exams were over, and the
results of Su-hyeun's studies were shown to Shin Su-yeong. I can't afford to use
working part-time as an excuse.
He thought it would be better if he were to live independently. Otherwise, I'll reveal

the truth.
It wasn't easy hiding the truth for a year. Moreover, Su-hyeun felt guilty about it. Su-
hyeun left the house and took the subway. Although Shin Su-yeong ended work late,
Su-hyeun personally went to find her at her workplace.
Su-hyeun arrived at the subway station by bus and took Line 1 towards Suwon
Station. Although it was after office hours, the station was still packed.
Screech—
Clank—
It was noisy. Although Su-hyeun had earphones plugged in, he couldn't focus on the
music.
It'll soon be… 2020? It was now December 2019. Time flew quickly.
Su-hyeun looked out of the window in the crowded subway. The densely packed
buildings and people passing through them looked peaceful at that moment.
Crash—!
Shatter—
The world turned upside down in front of his eyes, and everything was destroyed.
The buildings crumbled, the people who were smiling brightly turned bloody. The
sky turned black, and hot flames rose above the ground.
Part of the world, destroyed. This would probably be how it would look like after a
few decades.
Again…
Su-hyeun shut his eyes tightly. One, two, three. He opened his eyes after counting to
three. Thankfully the world was still the same.
"Huu—" He was sick of it. He occasionally had thoughts that everything was an
illusion, and the world had been destroyed. Everyone else besides him had died, and
the world had been burned down to ashes.
He might still be dreaming, and the moment he woke up, the destroyed world would
appear before him. He had seen this illusion countless times and feared it every
single time.
He was afraid that he would be left alone. Fearful that all these days were just lies.
However, it had improved lately, since he had seen these illusions numerous times.
He probably would feel better staying in the Tower of Trials.
Has it been a month? He should have accepted reality at this rate.
Whatever they are, they are not illusions. The destroyed world — and the remaining
part of this world, too — were both true. There was no need to take it badly. He just
had to make sure the illusions he saw were not turned into reality.
Screech—
The subway soon arrived at Suwon Station. Su-hyeun alighted the subway and
walked towards Shin Su-yeong's store.
"Su-hyeun, you're here? Wait a minute."
Shin Su-yeong was closing the store. Su-hyeun asked while helping her out.
"Did you sell a lot today?"
"Why should I sell so much? My salary would still be the same."
"There's no bonus?"
"The boss is so stingy. She's rich but such a miser." She said it half-jokingly.
Su-hyeun now smiled frequently while conversing with Shin Su-yeong. He had
changed quite significantly in the past year.
They walked towards a barbeque restaurant nearby. It had been a while since they
had grilled meat cooked over charcoal instead of in a pan.
As soon as the meat was cooked, Shin Su-yeong said, "Eat a lot, son. You've worked
hard studying so much."
Although he felt guilty for lying, Su-hyeun still nodded his head. "Thank you for the
food."
"Right. How were your results?"
It seemed that Shin Su-yeong did not forget that the results would be released today.
Su-hyeun shrugged knowingly, took out his results slip from his bag, and handed it to
her. He was about to put the wrapped meat into his mouth.
"My gosh, son! Are these really your results?"
"You surprised me. Did you think I would steal someone else's?"
"My gosh, my gosh!"
Not realizing that the meat was getting burnt, Shin Su-yeong smiled brightly at the
results slip. The tired face after work was nowhere to be seen. Su-hyeun had never
seen Shin Su-yeong smiling so brightly.
"Son. I hope for you to graduate from university, but it's alright if it's a normal
university…”
Most parents would want their children to attend a good university. It was the same
for his mother from his past life. Although attending university would not guarantee
a good future, but it would be advantageous to have a higher educational
background.
University. Although it would be deemed useless in a few years, Su-hyeun wanted to

fulfill her wishes. Thus, Su-hyeun took out some of his sleep time to study a month
before the exams. It wasn't difficult. He had done the same in his past life anyway.
There was no need to attend a good university, too.
Su-hyeun attended Dong-ha University in his past life. It was one of the three top
universities in Korea. For Su-hyeun, who had studied so intensely, it wasn't that
tough to study again.
"The meat is getting burnt. Let's dig in."
"Aigoo, I'm full even if I don't eat. I'm proud of you, son!"
Shin Su-yeong, who was still beaming, seemed to not care about the meat. The string
of compliments got Su-hyeun to turn red. He couldn't taste the meat properly.
How happy she must have been. She couldn't hold it any longer and started calling
someone to boast about it. Su-hyeun eventually bowed his head and sighed as he
watched.
Su-hyeun thought the results weren't good enough. This was enough, he thought. But
if it were the university from his past life? No way. It was just enough to get him into
a university in Seoul. As time passed, it seemed even more challenging to get such
high grades in his past life.
Should I have worked even harder? If she was delighted with results like this, what if
he had gotten even better results?
She would be grinning from ear to ear. He felt good just imagining it. A smile crept up
Su-hyeun's face, too.
Suddenly, he heard a voice in his ears.
"I thought you would do even better…”
It wasn't Shin Su-yeong's voice — it was a voice from his past life. The words were
spoken by Sung-in's mother. The results had been a lot better back then. But why…?
Why did she have such a disappointed look? Was it because he did not meet
expectations? Instead, he had hoped that she would be as happy as if he had done his
best.
I don't know anymore. Su-hyeun shook his head.

I'm not even going to attend university religiously.
He only took the exams to make her happy. Su-hyeun had no intention of attending
university earnestly.
Because I'll soon… Su-hyeun glanced at Shin Su-yeong's smiling face… Have to take
action here as well.
Act 6
After they finished their meal, they left to get a few beers at a pub. Coincidentally,
Shin Su-yeong did not have to work the next day, so she could let go and stay out for
longer.
Su-hyeun hurried to bed after returning home a little after midnight. He woke up
again in the wee hours of the morning and left his room after finishing his
preparations.
"Su-hyeun, you're leaving?"
Shin Su-yeong met Su-hyeun at the front door with a disheveled face. Wanting to
leave quietly, Su-hyeun nodded and said, "Yes. I'll be back."
"You said you're going on a trip? For how long?"
"I'm not sure yet. I'll head to wherever my feet take me."
After his exam results were released, Su-hyeun had said that he would be going on a
trip. As much as he studied over the past year, Shin Su-yeong did not oppose it.
"Don't stay out too late. And call me when you can."
"Don't worry. My phone will be switched off, so don't call me."
"You're doing it again. "
"It's not the first time. I'll be back." Su-hyeun grabbed his backpack and left. As if it
were a daily routine, Su-hyeun took a deep breath before heading deep into the
mountains.
It took a while. Although it took just a little over a year, he still made it here.
Tenth floor. It was the minimum criteria he had in mind. He had no intention of
breaking it himself. But Su-hyeun realized that his initial goal was harder to achieve
than expected.
It took longer than I had expected. His goal was to clear all the trials with almost
perfect records. He thought it would be possible to complete the tenth floor within a
year when he was clearing the first two floors. But it eventually took over a year. The
level 10 trial was much more formidable than anyone could have imagined.
Rip—! Once again, Su-hyeun opened the doors to the Tower of Trials.
The city on the tenth floor was always dark and dull. Unlike the city on the second
floor, it was hard to even come across a dweller in this empty and quiet place.
The world that people avoid the most. The Tower of Trials was a world packed with
numerous floors, and each floor had its own world. Although it was a gigantic tower,
each had its own environment, climate, and culture.
Amongst them, most would avoid the tenth floor. The sun never rose, and the
dwellers always looked depressed. Even those who wanted to forget and live anew in
the tower also avoided the tenth floor.
Su-hyeun walked north to the ends of the tenth floor, where the route was blocked by
a black wall. People often called this place the "end of the world." There was a
massive portal in front.
"Are you going in?"
A gatekeeper was guarding it. A middle-aged man with a long, stiff face sat on the
floor and looked up at Su-hyeun. He was the gatekeeper who guarded the portal.
"Payment." The gatekeeper reached out his hand towards Su-hyeun. Others may have
misunderstood him as a beggar asking for money, but Su-hyeun knew.
He was the so-called informant, the one and only informant who would provide you
with legitimate information about the tenth floor. How he knew the details of each
awakener's trials was a mystery. However, the information he gave was credible.
Su-hyeun grabbed his outreached hand. And…

[You have used 5,000 achievement points.]
Quite a bit of achievement points were used in a flash. Even though Su-hyeun had
accumulated quite a considerable amount of achievement points as he ascended the
floors, using this many points was still quite a burden.
But Su-hyeun made the payment in a heartbeat. The gatekeeper's eyes grew. "You're
quite generous."
"Because you're that valuable."
The gatekeeper smiled at his answer. "Thanks for the compliment. Which trial do you
wish to attempt?"
"Level 10. I want the highest difficulty." The gatekeeper's eyes grew even bigger. His
expression had changed drastically as compared to his stiff face.
As his expressionless face returned, he said, "It's as if I've taken a hit. I must provide
you with some information after receiving so much."
It seemed that paying the gatekeeper a high amount was the right choice. The
gatekeeper felt conflicted for a while, contemplating on what information to provide.
Hopefully, it's a piece of valid information…… For those who climbed the tower, the
tenth floor was a form of crisis.
This was because the trials' difficulty jumped every 10 floors. Some would say that
the 11th and 12th floors were more manageable than the 10th. Moreover, Su-hyeun
was challenging the trial with the highest level of difficulty.
No one had yet to clear the level 10 trial at the 10th floor as of yet, to Su-hyeun's
knowledge. Normally, certain sections on the tenth floor have their level of difficulty
reduced by one or two levels.
It was a tip that could be easily obtained through Abyss Online, but Su-hyeun knew
how harmful it was. If the difficulty gets lowered once, the following floors would
also become a crisis.
Once one started, one would never be able to advance further. Instead, one would
continue to find ways to lower the level of difficulty.
Su-hyeun decided that it would be better to pay more to the gatekeeper to continue
receiving reliable information and challenge higher difficulty trials than to reduce
them. The still contemplating gatekeeper finally said, "Beware of the village chief."
"The village chief?"
"That's all I can say. I wish you all the best." The gatekeeper ended the conversation.
The information felt a little off. It was too vague to be worth 5,000 points. The prices
of intel seemed to increase as the level of the trials gets higher.
Beware of the village chief…… Su-hyeun repeatedly reminded himself of those

words. There was no reason for the gatekeeper to lie to him.
"Thank you."
Su-hyeun walked towards the portal. The view before Su-hyeun turned white as he
stood on the portal, and a familiar message popped up.
[Kim Su-hyeun, the 10th-floor trial begins now.]
[Please choose the level of difficulty.]
[Level 1 ~ 10.]
[The level of difficulty and rewards obtained increases as the level gets higher.]
It was the start. A good amount of nervousness filled his chest every time a new trial
began. He always gave the same answer.
"Level 10."
[Level 10. The 10th-floor trial starts now.]
The white scene before him changed once more. The landscape of a village appeared
before him. The sky was black. A dark atmosphere and stale air filled the village,
similar to a simple and quiet countryside.
Su-hyeun looked up to the sky. The landscape looked strangely familiar.

[You have entered an unfamiliar village. The village is now in a massive crisis.]
[Rescue the village.]
[And survive.]
[The reward varies according to your performance.]
The trial's explanation was straightforward. He wondered if there was a better

explanation, since it was frustrating that it did not provide clear instructions. There
were loopholes in the explanation.
Rescue the village. Survive. Survive what?
He recalled the gatekeeper's words. He said to take extra notice of the village chief.
He thought that he should find the village chief first. A warning to be careful of the
village chief could have also meant that the chief would be the key to clearing this
trial.
Step, step—
Su-hyeun started walking into the village. Instead of looking around the village, Su-
hyeun looked up at the sky. Su-hyeun's face darkened. "It feels… more familiar here."
The awkward black sky seemed to be inked. The black sky felt different from a
moonlit sky. Su-hyeun had not seen this sky for over a year.
He suddenly felt awkward at the thought of a clear, blue sky. The color of this sky,
which he often saw in his illusions, felt more familiar. It was the same for this village.
Step, step—
He then felt eyes on him. It was one of the strangers looking at him. A skinny mother
with a baby in her hand, an old man, and a few other men. They stood at a distance,
unable to get close to Su-hyeun. They looked frightened in the dark.
People. It wasn't the first time he met people in the trials. But it was his first to see
such realistic expressions and reactions. It felt that way for their familiar reactions.
I have definitely… He recalled. In the future, he had felt similar eyes from a particular
village.
"So that was it." He seemed to have understood what the theme of this tutorial was.
This place must have been part of their destroyed world. No, more accurately, it was
a world close to destruction.
"Excuse me." Su-hyeun smiled and approached the villagers.
The villagers did not hide their defensive response towards Su-hyeun. When the
child tried to approach Su-hyeun, the mother pulled him back.
My, I'm hurt. As it was his first time to see people so afraid of him, he did not know
how to respond.
Su-hyeun sighed before continuing. "I want to stay here for a few days before leaving.
Is there any way I can do that?"
The question was directed towards everyone, but not one of them responded. It
would have been better to point out someone to talk to…
"Where is the village chief?"
…like the village chief. A commotion stirred amongst the people as he questioned. It
seemed the people, too, thought that it would be better to talk to the village chief.
Su-hyeun observed the villagers silently. He was certain about one thing just by
observing them.
They are uncomfortable with outsiders. It could be from their experience.
Drugs, murders. The societal problems that surfaced in a collapsing world. It was the
same, even though the civilizations are different. Human nature was not much
different anywhere.
It was a pity. It would have been better to cooperate and help each other out at times
like this.
It's a utopia. Anyone could paint a utopia in their minds, but it was literally nothing
more than just an ideal world. Such worlds would never exist unless the evil in
human nature was removed.
The man who Su-hyeun was waiting for finally appeared.
"I'm the village chief here."
A hunchbacked old man walked out towards Su-hyeun.

With a face filled with aging pigmentations and droopy eyes, he was a gentle-looking
old man. He didn't look like anyone to be cautious of.
"I heard that you were looking for me. What is it?" The village chief was wary of Su-
hyeun, just like the rest of the villagers.
"I was just passing by and saw a village here. I would like to stay for a few days. Is it
possible?"
“…You don't have any other motives?"
"What?"
"There's nothing to take from us. Not even a speck of dust, so leave."
Su-hyeun seemed to be regarded as an uninvited guest who was here to loot the
village. Persuasion was required.
"No. I don't want anything; I just hope for a place to sleep. I brought rations with me."
“…Really?"
The village chief's eyes brightened at the word rations.
Su-hyeun nodded, answering, "Yes, of course. I'm willing to share my rations, too.
Even if the monsters are here…”
"The monsters don't come to our village!" a child screamed.
Su-hyeun turned his head immediately. The child's mother hugged him close to her
chest. Then, the village chief spoke. "If so, alright. There are a few empty houses, so
you can use one of them. As for the food…”
"I'll give it to you."

“…Thank you."
He was greeted with thanks. Do they have problems with food, too?
There were a few severe issues in the destroyed world, and one of them was food. In
a world where neither rice nor wheat could be grown again, food became scarce to
the point when cannibalism began. This village had yet to arrive at that stage, but it
might arrive there soon due to limited food resources.
But… Su-hyeun looked at the child who screamed earlier. The monsters don't come.
As Su-hyeun went deep into his thoughts, the village chief turned around and spoke,
"Follow me. I'll show you an empty house."
"Ah, thank you." Su-hyeun bowed and followed the village chief. His worries did not
end.
The empty house that the village chief brought him to was a shabby tent that could
not even keep the wind out. Its shabbiness was worse than his semi-basement
apartment. One had to wonder: how could this be called a house?
I didn't know our house could feel so luxurious. Su-hyeun left his bags in the tent. Su-
hyeun took out bread, nuts, beef jerky, water, and more rations that filled his small
pouch.
"Ah."
As Su-hyeun stepped out, the child from earlier was waiting for him. It was a little
girl, about six or seven years old. She looked at Su-hyeun with her filthy face.
"Were you waiting?" Su-hyeun bent down.
She looked at the bundle in Su-hyeun's hand as she nodded. "You want to eat this?"
"Yes."
Su-hyeun offered a piece of bread from the bundle.
It was when the girl reached out. "What are you doing now?!" The village chief
roared.
It was an unbelievably loud and high-pitched voice coming from such a small build.
"Didn't you promise me?! If I provide you with a bed, you'll hand me your rations!"
"Isn't she from your village?" Su-hyeun asked, dumbfounded.
The village chief's gentle expression was suddenly replaced by an intimidating look.
"What does she know?! She only knows to fill her stomach, and that's it. You might
not know this, but food is equivalent to our lives here."
It wasn't an incomprehensible remark. But…
Su-hyeun looked back at the little girl. "Don't cry."
He patted the little girl's head as she silently sobbed and held the bundle out
towards the village chief.
"Take it. The food that I promised to give you is here."
"Hmm. Don't be too upset over this. It's all for the villagers."
The village chief came up to Su-hyeun and took it. His eyes went huge as he verified
the contents. Su-hyeun hated the sight of him, and not just because of the
gatekeeper's words. He seemed indifferent, at least to the feelings of others.
"Please leave."
"Uh-hmm. Hmm." The village chief left, making a few exaggerated coughs. The little
girl soon burst into tears.
That moment, her mother walked up quickly. "Don't hate the village chief."
She seemed to have overheard their conversation earlier while looking for her
daughter. The mother looked in the direction where the village chief left and said.
"It's quite tiring on him. He worked hard for this village his whole life… And I believe
he has something else on his mind."
"You mean he is so preoccupied that he can't share a piece of bread?"

"Yes. I — no, we — believe so." Her voice wavered at the end. There might have been
something else that made her hesitate while she said that.
What could it be? Just what did the village chief mean to them? That thought did not
last long. Su-hyeun took out a piece of bread and handed it to the little girl who
wouldn't seem to stop crying. "Here."
The child's mother was startled.
"Is, is this alright? What if the village chief finds out…”
"Don't worry. I took it out from my own rations, so the village chief can't say anything
about it."
"But still…”
"If you still feel uneasy, you can take it. The village chief can't possibly say anything if
an adult accepted this, right?"
Whether given to the child or the mother, the little girl would still get to eat it. Su-
hyeun forced the piece of bread into her hand. Su-hyeun patted the little girl's head
again and stood up.
As he walked around the village, Su-hyeun looked at the mother who was nagging
her daughter. It feels kind of weird.
The villagers had much faith in their chief, but he felt another feeling besides belief
from her eyes. It was nothing other than fear. The village chief felt almost like a
fishbone stuck in his throat.
I'll need to verify it.
Protect the village and survive. The trial's subject was still vague about what he was
supposed to protect the village from and what he had to survive.
There were divided opinions on the village people by those met from the trials.
Some said that it was like a program made for each floor of the trials, much like a
Non-Player Character (NPC). The rationale was that when they attempted the trial
again after failing it, the people could not remember them.
Some others said they were probably real people living in another world. Their
rationale was that the appearances and mindsets did not look like they were made
from a program.
Indeed… Su-hyeun thought while looking around the village.
I'm not sure yet.
Were the villagers' expressions, speaking, lifestyle, and civilization all made up? Or
could they be real living humans? Nothing could be confirmed, but Su-hyeun was
certain of one thing.
They are, at the very least, reacting based on their thoughts and emotions. So, he
would have to treat them the same as humans.
Su-hyeun tried finding out about the village chief — what kind of person he is, how
had he lived his life — but everyone's response to those questions was cold.
"Why do you ask that?"
"You have something up your sleeves, right?"
"Don't you dare harm our village chief, otherwise I'll—!"
Full-blown reactions. Nevertheless, Su-hyeun was able to hear a rough story when he
approached a mild-looking middle-aged lady.
"Please understand. We react this way because our village got looted by outsiders
quite often. Although I do not know what the village chief is thinking, we do feel
uneasy accepting outsiders."
He had expected that. Weak villages would only get looted in this world. But Su-
hyeun was curious about something else.
"Why does everyone trust the village chief so much?"

"That is because the village chief is a hero to the villagers." Su-hyeun's eyes wiggled
at her answer. It was a word so familiar that it felt annoying.
“…Hero?" That old man? Su-hyeun asked about the details. He wanted to know what
had happened to make everyone here regard him as a hero.
"Ah, I don't know. I can only tell you this much." Even the lady who was less wary
about Su-hyeun shook her head and turned away. Su-hyeun's mind got complicated.
Hero. There were a couple things he was sure of if the village chief was called by that
title: the village chief saved the villagers, and it must have been through an extreme
method.
…He didn't seem to be that kind of person. It was something he would come to know
without the gatekeeper's warning. As he went deeper into his thoughts, Su-hyeun's
mind got more complicated.
Either the gatekeeper's warning was wrong, or the villagers are blind. It was one or
the other, and Su-hyeun was betting on the latter.
Su-hyeun had observed the village for a while. It wasn't long until he started to
widen his area of search. There was nothing else he could fish out from the villagers.
They were definitely with the village chief. He could only find out new information
by himself.
First, I'll need to find out… From what did he have to protect the village from? He
required an answer to that.
But as he left the village's entrance, a strong smell stimulated Su-hyeun… a familiar
smell. "It couldn't be."
As soon as he smelt it, Su-hyeun's face cringed. Su-hyeun looked around him, and the
doubt soon became the truth.
“…Damn it."
Su-hyeun had seen the ugly side of men for a long time. As the world was collapsing,
he learned that even good men would turn evil, and their smell was evidence.
"Beware of the village chief." He needed a little more verification.

Somehow… Su-hyeun's eyes narrowed at the source of the smell.
I have got to be more assertive than this.

Act 7
The night went by, and the morning sky came. The village chief came looking for Su-
hyeun, calling for him in front of the tent.
"Are you in?"
There was no answer. After he called out a few more times without hearing any
response, the village chief opened the doors and stepped in.
"Until when are you going to… Oh?" It was empty inside.
He looked around the tent and came out. There was a vague sense of uneasiness.
"Where did he go?"
He definitely said he was looking for a place to rest. The village chief came out of the
tent and looked around in the village.
"Village chief, where are you heading to?" One of the villagers approached him. The
village chief answered him, still looking around.
"I'm looking for the outsider who arrived yesterday. Did you see him?"
"No, I didn't. What is it about?"
"He disappeared suddenly. I'm worried that he might be up to something in the

village." The chief's worry was not just his own. Looting by outsiders happened quite
often in the village. Many came as guests like Su-hyeun but looted the village through
the night.
"It couldn't be…”
"Shh! Lower your voice. Didn't I say that we can't help it?"
"But even so…”

"Just sleep and stay quiet. Got it?"
“…Yes."
The village chief looked disapprovingly at the man who lowered his head. Right, he
thought. We can't help it.
The village chief looked at the small bottle he held in his hand. It was a powerful
medicine that could make one sleep for over 10 days. Indeed, the village chief was
hungry for the food that Su-hyeun had.
And the one asleep is… The village chief looked around the village quickly. At that
moment, a woman approached the chief.
"Village chief, village chief!" The woman who was running helter-skelter stopped
before him. She took a while to catch her breath.
"What is it?"
"At the village's shopping district…” The village chief's eyes grew wide as he listened.
He couldn't wait any longer and made his way towards the shopping district.
It was a central district that merchants used as a marketplace before the world
collapsed. The villagers crowded around the area.
"What is this?!" The village chief's roar drew everyone's attention.
Fear and uneasiness could be seen on their faces. The village chief pushed through
the huge crowd and found Su-hyeun amongst them. Su-hyeun raised his hand,
greeting the village chief. "Did you just arrive?"
"I asked what this is!"
"By that, possibly…”
Poke—
Su-hyeun poked at the gigantic snake's head that was placed beside him. "Did you
mean this?"
The village chief did not answer. The village chief's mind got complicated, wondering
what it was all about.
Su-hyeun spoke again with a grin. "Why are you so angry? I took care of the monster
hidden in the basement."
"What, what? That was uncalled for…!"
"It wasn't unnecessary?
"Yes! That monster was protecting our village!"
Indeed. The smile left Su-hyeun's face. "Why did you think that it was protecting
you?"
"It wasn't a thought, but the truth!"
"And for that…” Su-hyeun looked at the villagers and asked.
"Do you make human sacrifices one by one?" The village chief's eyes widened at his
question. He was so surprised that he took a few steps back, before gritting his teeth
and asked.
"How… did you know?" It was the village's secret. More accurately, it was something
that Su-hyeun must not know of. From the chief's point of view, it was
incomprehensible that he severed the beast's head.
"I know a bit about this monster." The head of the gigantic snake was about a meter
wide in diameter. Su-hyeun knew its name.
"It's called the Predatory Snake. Except during meals, it's lazy and spends most of its
time sleeping." As soon as the monster's name was spoken, everyone's, including the
village chief's, face visibly stiffened. In fact, they did not know the monster's name.
"It doesn't care about anything else besides satisfying its belly. It searches for a
hunting ground and, until it leaves, marks its own territory so that weaker monsters
can't even come near."
"Stop, stop it!" The village chief panicked as Su-hyeun spoke as if he knew
everything.
His uncomfortable body walked towards Su-hyeun; however, Su-hyeun continued on.
"Eventually, you will have to keep feeding it food. That way, it won't run away. But
you know what's funny?"
"I said stop it!"
"This beast does not see the person who feeds it as its prey." There it was: the truth
that he did not wish to be known. His words stirred a considerable commotion.
"Is that the truth?"
"He said so?"
"So, then… the chief made us…”
"Wait, the monster did not even try to eat the chief, right? What actually happened?"
Here was what happened: One day, the village chief brought the Predatory Snake and
said, "Listen to me. If we let it stay here, it'll keep us safe."
But there was a condition to it.
"This beast will only be full if it eats a human every three days. If we are to live, we
have to make a human sacrifice every three days. Let's draw lots. And… I'll become
the first offering."
The village chief claimed himself to be the first offering, but the Predatory Snake did
not eat him. They had no choice but to offer someone else.
"You seem to have taken someone else as an offering before bringing it here," Su-
hyeun said after he listened to the villagers with contemptuous eyes.
"You b*stard."
"Lies! It's all lies!" The village chief shouted in a fit.
Disbelief grew in the villagers' eyes. The village chief had never been looked upon
like this in his whole life. "Thank you, village chief. It was thanks to you that our
village could survive," someone said.
"It was thanks to you that we can finally sleep in peace. You are our village's hero."
"Village chief…”
Amongst them were people who made "inevitable" sacrifices.
"My son, not my son! Village chief, please!"
"It's inevitable. Please understand."
"Village chief, village chief!"
"That… bad guy…”
"He fooled us!"
"Wait, don't get duped by the outsider!"
"No, we're fooled! I wondered why the monster did not eat the village chief!"
"Calm down and…”
"He made my husband into that monster's food! Why would he do that? Why?!"
The villagers were outraged. Su-hyeun's words were reasonably trustworthy.

Without his knowledge of the Predatory Snake's habits, they would never have found
out. Still, however, some people still believed in the village chief.
"My son, my son…”
"My gosh…”
"Oh my! Max, Max!"
Su-hyeun watched as they mourned loudly. An inevitable sacrifice. Must be endured.

There were those who had pent-up resentment at those words.
Rescue the village. Survive.
Survive from what? The questions had already been answered by the gatekeeper.
The village chief could not do anything more.
"From now on…”
Stomp—
Su-hyeun stomped the ground. The magic that accumulated on his feet spread into
the ground. The commotion ceased in a flash.
"Everyone, please answer."
Silence.
"You can decide the deposition for your village chief. You can either wait until he
becomes prey for the monster, or…”
Su-hyeun's eyes met the chief's.
"Hick!"
The frightful village chief lost all strength and flopped onto the ground.
"Everyone will make the call."
Suddenly a young man stood out. "Isn't it too much to ask us to make a decision after
you've killed the monster? We might be dying right now because of you!"
The young man was trembling. He was a coward. Even if he himself were a coward,
everyone would be the same.
The chief was, so to speak, the much-needed evil. Although he shamelessly sacrificed
others to save himself, it was evident that his role contributed to the safety of the
village.
"So, are you going to wait until he becomes prey to another monster?"
"That…”
"Also, there's one more thing that you're not aware of."
"What else do we not know?"
"The Predatory Snake lays about six to eight eggs once a quarter."
The villagers were not the only ones surprised at Su-hyeun's words. The village
chief's eyes widened once more at this fact.
"If you keep offering human sacrifices every three days, the number would increase
each time. Here is the problem."
Su-hyeun asked, looking around. "How long will it take for everyone here to end up
in the snake's stomach?"
The villagers kept quiet. They had quite a number of people, despite being just a
village, but what if the number of people they sacrificed increased exponentially? It
wouldn't be that way for long.
Silence.
"There's no need to know for certain. You could roughly guess. If you need
verification, I could show you the eggs in the basement."
"Ahh, ahh…”
Despair. The thought of being able to live a bit longer was actually a shortcut to
death. A dark shadow cast on all of their faces, losing even the faintest trace of hope.
"There's a method."
“…A way?"
"What is it?"
The villagers pricked up their ears. They thought all hope was lost…… But was there
really a method? As they needed a more detailed explanation, Su-hyeun had more to
say.
"There's a way for everyone to live," Su-hyeun spoke, looking at the villagers
surrounding him.
"Will you listen to me?"
The villagers made a decision concerning the village chief.
Death. There was no other way of repaying his actions for fooling the villagers. He
had already offered the villagers to the Predatory Snake as prey. The village chief,
who could not endure floggings and beatings, shouted furiously.
"You lot are being fooled! All of you are being fooled by him!" Some were wavered by
his screams. It was true that the village chief had devoted his whole life to the village,
and Su-hyeun was an outsider who arrived just yesterday.
The anger of the villagers whose family had become prey to the Predatory Snake was
not easily shaken by his play.
Su-hyeun brought six robust young villagers down into the basement.
"What is happening here?" One of them soothed his shivering forearm. The
Predatory Snake lived in the village's basement, which was connected to the chief's
house. Although Su-hyeun killed it, the young men did not wish to enter after
knowing the truth.
"Didn't you say that there's a way for everyone to live?"
"Is the method right here?"
"Yes."
The basement was dark and humid. As they followed the stairs, they arrived at a
huge cave. The sound of something crawling could be heard.
Screech, screech—
Their eyes were glistening in the dark. The young men who followed Su-hyeun down
stepped back in astonishment.
"M-m-monster…”
"Ugggh…”
The monsters were the babies of the Predatory Snake.

It was a total of six. Su-hyeun nodded his head after counting their numbers.
Thankfully, they have all hatched. The snakelets had the body size of an adult male.
Although they were young, they were still twice the size of an anaconda. Their
growth period would end within a few months.
Adult Predatory Snakes usually slept soundly for a day after a meal. On the contrary,
the snakelets would eat much more than that.
Creak—
The six snakelets showed their teeth as they approached Su-hyeun, who was taking
the lead. Although they were smaller than the adults, their build was still a lot larger
than humans; hence, the young men are intimidated by them. But…
"Close your mouths."
Creak, creeeak—
Su-hyeun spoke again, walking towards the snakelets. "Close your mouths."
Gu, guuu—
The wide cave shook. Not only the young men, but also the snakelets that were facing
them were in disarray.
Seuk, eukkk—
A pair of magic-filled eyes looked at the snakelets. The snakelets were frightened and
cowered at Su-hyeun's eyes. The young men watching Su-hyeun saw him once again
as a monster.
W-what is that?
I knew he wasn't normal when he killed that monster…

Is he human?
A human overpowering a monster with his eyes alone? It was impossible. Just one of
those snakelets could turn the village into nothing. The Predatory Snake was a
monster of that capacity.
"W-why did you show them to us?"
"It couldn't be…”
Disbelief was in their eyes. They thought that Su-hyeun might throw them to feed the
snakelets. The fear made them unable to think.
"What are you guys thinking of?" Su-hyeun shook his head and spoke while looking
at the young men.
"We will be training them from now on."
"What?"
"What do you mean, 'training them?'"
Su-hyeun started explaining to them as they looked confused. "I have explained to
you that the habits of Predatory Snakes are that they sleep soundly after meals and
do not prey on the one who feeds them."
"Right."
"Those habits are for the normal Predatory Snakes. Though they have similar habits,
the snakelets have one more habit. It's a normal one, not much different from
animals."
"No way…” They must have understood after listening to this explanation. Su-hyeun
nodded at the men's suspicions.
"Right. They would regard the person who feeds them like their mother."
So they had to train the Predatory Snakes. That was what Su-hyeun was suggesting.
In this era, monsters were evil and predators to humans. It was absurd to think of
taming them.
"Taming these guys… means the villagers would once again…”
"Why did you think that its food has to be humans?"
"What?"
"Isn't there food for them outside the village?"
"Outside the village?" They showed faces that could not comprehend. Su-hyeun
nodded towards the green-horned beasts.
"They eat humans, but there's no rule that they can't eat other monsters."
"A-are you suggesting to feed them the monsters outside the village?"
"It's impossible! How can we…”
"Who asked you to catch those monsters?"
“…What?" Su-hyeun was faced with puzzled expressions. Su-hyeun let out a deep
sigh. He picked only the most robust men from the village, but they had more fear
than he thought.
"I'll catch the monsters. You guys would just have to feed them to the snakelets."
There was a reason why the Predatory Snake gave birth to snakelets at the start of
the trial. Su-hyeun took advantage of it to pass the trial.
The trial occasionally gave extremely tough missions. This trial could be said to have
the theme of endless dedication. Asking to rescue the village with no strings
attached was not a problematic mission for Su-hyeun.
It's me. Though it might have felt relatively easy, as time went on, it became more
ridiculous. What if he had not known about the Predatory Snake? What would have
happened if he did not heed the gatekeeper's advice and trusted the village chief?
He would have fallen into the trap that the chief made without getting a clue and
would have been sent as the Predatory Snake's prey.
[Accomplished: 30%]
[Will you complete the trial?]
These were the messages that appeared in his mind when he killed the Predatory
Snake and suggested to kill the village chief. They were a different style of message.
It didn't say that the trial had ended, but instead gave him the choice to end it
himself.
He had encountered these types of trials in his past life. There were times where you
could choose when to complete the trials.
Is dealing with the village chief and the Predatory Snakes the minimum requirement
for clearing?
The trial seemed more irresponsible than he had imagined.
I can't treat what I've done so far as rescuing the village. The village was nearly at its
end when the chief died and they lost the Predatory Snake's protection. It was
evident that they would soon be attacked by monsters.
Although he did not know when it would happen, he knew at the very least that it
would not be in the distant future. "30% accomplished" definitely meant that the
village was still not completely safe.
From now on, Su-hyeun had to find a way to protect the village and increase his level
of accomplishment.
It was a purposeful installment of the snakelets… The key point was how he made
use of the installment.
It would have been impossible to clear the mission without knowledge of the
Predatory Snakes' habits. Su-hyeun came to that conclusion. It was apparent every
time, but the level 10 trials did not just require one's strength. As the trials got
harder, they required something more.
It was the evening. Nevertheless, dark clouds brought upon total darkness in the sky.
Su-hyeun was familiar with this world, which could not even see dusk.
"It's been a while since I've done babysitting." Su-hyeun muttered after stepping out
of the village. The Predatory Snakes' territory had been maintained for a month.
The Predatory Snake marked its territory with bodily fluids secreted from its mouth,
and the nasty smell made weaker monsters stay away. As per the villagers, the
territory would only last for 15 days. He had to train them within that period.
"Six snakelets…”
One snakelet per day. He had to fill the stomach of six snakelets.
"I have to work hard for quite some time."
Step, step—
Su-hyeun stopped in his tracks and observed the surroundings. "No, there's no need
to."
Grrrr—
As soon as he stepped out of the territory, he detected several signs of monsters.
"It's not as much of a nuisance as expected."
He did not have to search for the monsters. They lurked around the predatory
snake's territory, targeting the people coming out of the village.
"Here! Your prey is here!"
[You used the skill "Leap."]
[Excluding the targeted object, the surrounding enemies perceived you as an enemy.]
Kyaaaa—!
Stomp, stomp—!
The monsters that were salivating as Su-hyeun came rushing towards them.
Clang, clang—!
Su-hyeun grabbed his sword and spear in his hands. And at the same time, Su-hyeun
leaped forward.
Ssss—!
Rippp—!
A monster's body with the face of a huge wolf was slashed half. After avoiding the
forthcoming monsters with Leap, he leaped once more in the air.
He leaped twice in total. As the skill's ability increased, the number of times he could
use the skill increased as well.
"Hoop—"
Su-hyeun looked down as he leaped high in the air. He fixed on his target.
Paang—!
Swooooosh—!
Su-hyeun bent his body into a bow and threw the spear.
Plat—!
The massive spider monster's heart was destroyed. Su-hyeun first finished the
trickiest monster, which secreted venom.
Hwooong—!
The next monster that came running was a translucent goblin type monster with no
form. It swung Su-hyeun's body around and emitted dark energy. It was an energy
that made human flesh age and rot.
Whoosh—
That moment, the end of Su-hyeun's sword was engulfed in blue flames.
[The skill "Flame" was used.]

Hwaaa—!
Slash—!
Not only did Su-hyeun's sword cut the dark energy, but it also slashed the formless
goblin.
Su-hyeun, who leaped high in the air, returned to the ground. The monsters
hesitated.
They focused on the flame, which engulfed the sword. Su-hyeun instinctively sensed
that the blaze was more dangerous than anything else.
It was at that moment when the monsters were afraid of Su-hyeun. "Where are you
heading to?"
[The skill "Provocation" was used.]
Once again, Su-hyeun made the monsters turn back. "I would be sad."
Flame. Su-hyeun obtained that reward on the eighth floor. Su-hyeun chose not to
learn too many skills. If the skills were not used at the right time and place, he
thought that it would be pointless to obtain them as well. Thus, Su-hyeun chose to
focus on learning the most useful skills.
Leap and Provocation were the most-used skills by magical awakeners and were also
proven to be effective. And amongst them, Flame was a skill that the picky Su-hyeun
liked.
[Flame.]
-Magic Level: 4.
-Level: 1.
-Ability: 15.5%.
-A sacred fire that burns magic. It inflicts fatal wounds on dark-type enemies and its
power is determined by the magic level.
It was a level-dependent skill. Firstly, he liked this part. Level-dependent skills, like
the Transfiguration skill, were more efficient. In particular, many of the dark-type
monsters were quite tricky. There were some enemies in soul forms that would not
be harmed by physical attacks.
It's certainly the best skill in terms of power. Su-hyeun's assessment of Flame was
quite generous. Amongst all the top-notch skills that Su-hyeun had seen, giving the
Flame skill such high evaluation meant that it was quite exceptional.
Besides high magic consumption, it has quite a heavy pressure on health too.
It was too excessive a skill to be used on small monsters. Nevertheless, Su-hyeun

used Flame for just one reason.
When else can I increase my ability other than at this point?

The skills' powers were classified into two categories.
Firstly, the most basic requirement of a skill was its magic level. The second was its
ability.
Thus, regardless of how high the skill level was, if the ability was meager, one would
not be able to use it to its fullest potential. In this regard, it wasn't a bad idea to make
use of this trial to raise Su-hyeun's skill ability.
<<Burn, burn!>>
As he watched the surrounding monsters' corpses burn, he let out a breath of

exhaustion.
"Huu—"
The Flame skill's ability had increased.
It was the same with the Provocation skill. There was nothing better than real battles
to increase a skill's ability.
<<The monster that I could use the Transfiguration skill on… >>
Su-hyeun clicked his tongue as he watched the corpses lying on the ground.
"It's not here."
The 10th floor.
Regardless of how difficult it was, the trial would not arrange monsters that were
impossible for awakeners to deal with. It would be surprising to see monsters of a
higher caliber than the Predatory Snake.
"Well, if a tougher monster than the Predatory Snake appears, the mission would not
be valid."
The Predatory Snake's territory created a deterrence to other monsters. If there
were stronger monsters, the village would have been destroyed much earlier.
"This should be enough."
He had sufficient corpses to feed the snakelets. The rest were hunted to increase Su-
hyeun's skill's proficiency. Su-hyeun brought out the six young men who were
supposed to feed the snakelets.
"A-all of these…”
"Did you catch all of these?"
The six young men looked wearily at Su-hyeun.
There were countless bodies. Most of them were black as if they had been burnt to
death.
"Drag those bodies there onto the cart. They should sustain the snakes for a few
days."
"Yes, yes!"
"Um… What will our benefactor like to do? Will you be returning with us
immediately?"
Benefactor? Su-hyeun's eyes narrowed at the awkward, burdensome title.
"I'll catch up in a while."
"Why don't you leave with us?"
"That's right. Let's go together. Mealtime is already over, too…”
It seemed that they were worried that Su-hyeun might disappear without a trace.
Even though Su-hyeun was an awkward and unfamiliar person at first, he was now
the only person they could rely on.
Su-hyeun was aware of their worries. But before that, he had something he needed
to do.
"The snakelets take time to mark their territory. No matter how fed and bloated they
are, it's going to take around a month."
"S-so… In the coming month…”
The young men's faces turned pale at Su-hyeun's words.
Su-hyeun's words meant that in the following month, the village would be unsafe
from the monsters outside. They didn't know it, but it was part of the trial that Su-
hyeun was given.
"I'll protect the village for the next month."
“…What?" asked one of the men.
"Personally, by the benefactor?" asked another.
"But why…”
It should have been a happy matter, but they could not bring themselves to feel that
way. The question of why came naturally.
Why was it that Su-hyeun wanted to help them like this? It was an overly one-sided
relationship. And if you were no fool, you would know that one-sided good deeds
without reason were not something you could easily come across.
However, such doubts from the young men did not matter to Su-hyeun. No matter
how they saw him, Su-hyeun would only take one action.
"Anyway, I will catch all the monsters around the village, so don't worry. Just return
to the village. I will also return before the sun sets."
The young men had no choice but to nod their heads, leaving Su-hyeun at that spot.
<<This is just right for training my skill's ability.>>
<<Protect the village, increase my skills' proficiency, kill two birds with one stone.>>
After a moment of rest, Su-hyeun wandered around the village and began calling for
monsters.
Just like that, all day long, Su-hyeun caught the monsters again and again.
Act 8
Time passed quickly.
Luckily, the village was recognized as a safe zone, so Su-hyeun was able to come and
go between the real world and the village. Occasionally, Su-hyeun would return to
the real world to contact Shin Su-yeong and then return to the village to repeat his
hunts.
The villagers' attitude towards Su-hyeun had also changed. At first, their gazes
towards Su-hyeun were full of suspicion. They thought he might be approaching the
village with an ulterior motive. However, their suspicions cleared up as time passed.
Perhaps, just like what Su-hyeun had said, they could see that the snakelets were
becoming tamer. The snakelets grew day by day. The young men had begun to train
them in various ways according to Su-hyeun's words.
Late one night, Su-hyeun finished his hunt and returned to the village. His skill's
proficiency was progressing steadily.
[Accomplishment: 65%]
Su-hyeun was satisfied after checking his accomplishments.
<<As expected, taming the snakelets was the answer.>>
As the snakelets grew, his accomplishment percentage increased. That steady rise in
accomplishment was also proof that Su-hyeun was on the right track.
Flop—
Su-hyeun returned to his shabby tent house and laid down on the hard floor. He was
exhausted.
After fighting monsters all day long, his body felt drained of strength. Recently, it felt
as if he had gone back to the past.
<<Perhaps it's because of that sky.>>
This place was very similar to the world he lived in: a destroyed world, anxious
people, the black, dead sky and earth.
It was swarming with monsters outside the village. It might have been set up as such
to match the stage of the 10th floor, as there were no monsters above a certain level.
<<I'll get some sleep and start again tomorrow… >>
Just as Su-hyeun was about to close his eyes, he heard some rustling.
He felt a presence outside the tent house. It was a very small presence.
Dragging his tired body, Su-hyeun stood up from his spot. He walked towards the
door and saw a familiar face outside.
"Kid."
"Hic."
It was the same six or seven-year-old kid that he saw a few days back. The child who
came to find Su-hyeun seemed so afraid that she covered herself behind the tree in
the distance.
Looking at the child who was half-covered, Su-hyeun said with a small smile, "I can
see you. Are you looking for me?"
“…Yes."
The child was cute. Su-hyeun continued talking, holding back his laughter that was
threatening to burst because of the child's reaction.
"Since you are looking for me, could you come nearer? If you stand so far away, Uncle
would not be able to hear you."
"I'm not a kid! I'm Mellie!"

Upset by being called a kid, the child cried out.
She was an interesting child. With seemingly no thoughts of going closer, Mellie kept
her distance while stealing glances at Su-hyeun. He waited until the girl came closer.
Mellie approached Su-hyeun slowly after making eye contact several times.
"Here."
After moments of fidgeting, Mellie came near and held out her hand towards Su-
hyeun. In her palm was a small piece of bread slightly smaller than a fist.
"What could this be?" Su-hyeun asked. "Is this for me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I'm just thankful."
"Thankful?"
"I heard that you were protecting our village. Thank you for protecting our village."
It seemed like rumors had spread throughout the village.
"Did you know that? Actually, the village chief was a horrible person. I knew that…
but…”
"How did you know that?"
"My elder brother was taken away by the village chief. And he did not come back."
Su-hyeun's heart sank at Mellie's answer. This young child was aware of everything.
She was aware of the sadness of losing her brother and was holding onto the grief.
That was why while the others called the village chief a hero, Mellie seemed unable
to do so. Mellie looked up at Su-hyeun with shining eyes and continued speaking.
"Well, they said that you are our village's hero. The other uncles said that."
“…Hero?"
"Yes. So, I will give you this. Take it."
Rumble, rumble—
As she passed over the bread, a sound of hunger could be heard from Mellie's
stomach. Without batting an eye, Mellie held out the bread to Su-hyeun, hurrying
him to take it. Something inside of him choked up.
Why was this young child given such a difficult task as starvation? What was it that
made this young child unable to express her hunger?
He closed his eyes. Anger flared up.
<<If only I were a real hero.>>
He was not a hero. He had already felt that fact, bone-deep, in his past life. However,
in this young child's eyes, his unremarkable self seemed like a real hero.
Su-hyeun opened his eyes. He looked at Mellie's eyes again.
"No, Uncle is…”
<<Absolutely nothing, unlike a hero.>>
Would it be right to say this?
Was it right to destroy this child's fantasies and hopes that were instilled in these
words? There was a moment of hesitation.
"Mellie! You can't do that! I'm sorry, so sorry."
Mellie's mother appeared and swept her up in her arms. The woman might not have
even known what she is sorry for. Knowing this, Su-hyeun hurriedly waved his
hands.
"No, it's fine. I was bored and had fun because of Mellie."
"That's right! Mom, you don't even know."

"Mellie!"
As if asking her to please be quiet, Mellie's mother placed a finger to her lips. She
bowed her head to Su-hyeun once again.
"No. I should have been keeping an eye on her… she has no manners…”
"It's fine. Really."
The woman had a look of relief after studying Su-hyeun's expression. Luckily, Su-
hyeun had not shown any displeasure.
"Uncle, are you not going to eat this?"
Mellie once again held out the piece of crumbly and slightly dusted bread towards
Su-hyeun. The girl's mother started nagging at Mellie again, but Su-hyeun laughed
lightly and accepted the bread.
"Since Mellie gave me a present, I'll have to repay her, right?"
The crumbly, small bread returned as a piece of soft and warm bread.
Mellie's face brightened as she saw a piece of large bread emerge from Su-hyeun's
pouch. "Wow!"
Mellie laughed excitedly. Her mother looked troubled once again. She looked
between Mellie and Su-hyeun, unable to do anything.
"Mellie, you are really… I'm sorry. You do not have to eat that…”
Before the woman ended her words, Su-hyeun put the bread in his mouth and ate it.
"It's delicious."
In fact, it wasn't even chewable. But…
"Really, it was delicious."
Those were sincere words.
It was tough to swallow that dry and tough piece of bread without water. It tasted
nothing like food.
He would not forget the bread he ate that day for the rest of his life — it was, indeed,
that gratifying.
Creak, creak—
Slither, slither—
Six snakelets.
More accurately, half of them, now grown to be adult Predatory Snakes, darted their
tongues.
They had a considerable physical build that spanned two meters in diameter. The
triangular headed Predatory Snakes had venom in their teeth and saliva dripping
from their mouths.
<<They have grown a lot.>>
It had been a month and a half. Although it was hard to discern whether they had
developed into adults, they would be no match for the fair number of monsters
lurking around the village.
"How was the hunt today?" Su-hyeun asked the six young men who were managing
the predatory snakes. They seemed to have gotten familiar with training the snakes.
"There aren't many monsters left around the village. I think we may have to broaden
the hunting ground slowly."
"What about the food rations?" Su-hyeun asked.
"We found potatoes and some rotten wheat in a distant village. We should have no
problems with food for the next three months."
"Please search for other food that can be self-cultivated, since there will be a limited
amount of food sourced from outside."
"We got it."

The village became livelier. Regardless of the situation outside the village, at least the
village was now safe from monsters.
There were no more humans sacrificed for the predatory snakes. Before that, the
villagers feared that they would be sacrificed for the snakes, rather than the
monsters outside.
<<Peace created within the trial's confined stage… >>
Su-hyeun suddenly felt entirely unfamiliar with this world. Though it was similar to
the destroyed world he knew, the system organized it well.
<<Just how long will this peace last?>>
In the past month and a half, Su-hyeun did not spot any other monsters that could
invade the Predatory Snakes' territory, but it was unclear as to how much longer the
village would be safe.
Even if they domesticated the six Predatory Snakes, if there were a monster stronger
than them, the peace would vanish in a flash.
Step, step—
Su-hyeun left the basement where they were training the Predatory Snakes and
walked through the village. A lot had changed during this period.
"Ah, it's the hero uncle!"
"Uncle, where are you heading?"
"Mr. Su-hyeun, are you heading out of the village again today?"
It was the villagers' attention and hospitality towards Su-hyeun. Their initial
impression of Su-hyeun had long been erased. Now, in their eyes, Su-hyeun was the
hero who saved their village.
Su-hyeun felt burdened with those looks. It was especially true when the children
called him a hero openly.
Su-hyeun spoke to Mellie's mother. "I have to verify again if any more monsters are
lurking around the village."
"That's hard work. Because of us, every day…”
"It's nothing. It's my duty."
He had meant it. His actions now were only part of the process to pass the trial. The
mission was now at its final stage.
As the Predatory Snakes were growing into adults, the trial's accomplishment
increased quickly, depending on the village's safety. The rewards would be great as it
was a trial that required an extended period of time; the lingering attachment was
higher than anticipation.
<<How will this village survive after I leave?>>
Would it return to its original state, as if Su-hyeun had never set foot there? Or would
it maintain the status quo with the newly domesticated Predatory Snakes?
If so… would the village stay safe forever?
"Damn it."
Su-hyeun was organizing his train of thoughts when a stream of vulgarity

unknowingly came out. The frightened children backed away in the tense
atmosphere. The same went for Mellie's mother.
"Why… Did something bad happen?"
"Ah, no."
Su-hyeun shook his head at the foul words he had just said. He looked at the children
and smiled at them once again.
"Really, it's nothing."
Su-hyeun left the village after those words. Strangely, the weird feeling did not go
away. As Su-hyeun felt that he was unnecessarily concerned, he checked the trial's
status.
[Accomplishment: 99 percent.]
Why?
There had been no change in the accomplishment level for a few days. Obviously, the
village would be safe if nothing else were to happen.
<<There must be something left I haven't taken care of.>>
It was because of the remaining 1% that he was unsatisfied and did not choose to
clear this trial.
The Tower of Trials' system never lied. Failure to achieve 100% in accomplishment
meant that the village was not completely safe.
Since Su-hyeun could have already cleared this trial when he had killed the village
chief and the first Predatory Snake, there would not be much of a problem if the trial
ended here.
But…
<>
Even if his goal was just to clear the trial with perfection, he had to do something.
<<You know, they said you're our village's hero.>>
With the sudden strange thought creeping into his mind, Su-hyeun shook his head
vigorously.
<<Let's not think needlessly.>>
Su-hyeun then left the village. No other monsters remained outside the village. They
were mostly dealt with in the past month and a half.
<<The remaining 1 percent.>>
He had to find out the reason.
Su-hyeun did not return to the village, even when the sky had turned completely
dark at night.
Step, step—
Su-hyeun was now quite a distance from the village. He felt the eyes of various
monsters on him, but he could sense something larger amongst them.
He looked down beneath his feet. It was directly beneath him.
“…So, it was you."
Its eyes only opened at dawn. As it was quite a distance from the village and barely
active during the day, he could not have sensed it.
The Flame skill was used on Su-hyeun's sword.
The flame's size was a lot larger than the first time. This was thanks to the hunted
monsters that increased his skill's proficiency.
Su-hyeun used his magic to bring out the flame as much as he could, and using the
sword as a counterweight, stabbed it into the ground.
Stab—!
The flames permeated into the ground. Su-hyeun consistently sent the fire into the
ground. Soon, he got a reaction.
Rumble, rumble—
Crack—!
The ground beneath him shook and its surface burst open. Soon, something huge
appeared above ground.
Su-hyeun avoided it by leaping into the air. He could verify the monster's form by
leaping a few times more into the air.
Kyaaaaa—!
A gigantic earthworm.
It was an earth-colored monster without any eyes, nose, or limbs. The only body part
it had on its lengthy build was a hideous mouth that unleashed a loud groan.
Its form was similar to the Predatory Snake's. But Su-hyeun knew.
<<A natural enemy that could threaten the Predatory Snake.>>
It was the only remaining threat to the village in this trial: the Earthworm.
Its body had even more venomous poison than the Predatory Snake. If both the
Earthworm and Predatory Snake met, the Predatory Snake would be paralyzed and
die from the Earthworm's venom in an instant.
<<Though it isn't the only monster that would appear in the 10th-floor trials… >>
The trial could be cleared without even catching the monster. In other words, one
could catch it if possible; otherwise, he would have to return to the Tower.
Su-hyeun observed the Earthworm's movement, and its related information

appeared.
The Earthworm belonged to the boss level monsters. Its lifeline was lengthy and not
to be taken lightly. Moreover, the most important point was its venom. Even for Su-
hyeun, it was tough to be safe from the Earthworm's poison without toxic-resistant
skills.
<>
Su-hyeun set the flame ablaze once more and charged towards the earthworm.
Drip, drip—
Pant, pant—
Su-hyeun let out a heavy breath and stumbled, exhausted.
The Earthworm's green blood flowed into the dirt. Su-hyeun's feet seemed to burn
wherever he stepped on the blood-stained ground.
Creak, creak—
The Earthworm was not dead yet. A few fragments of its body were prolonging its
life.
"Let's end this."
Su-hyeun finally gathered the last of his magic and severed its head.
Slash—!
Kya—
[You have attained the highest accomplishment.]
[You have passed the 10th-floor's trial with perfection.]
[You can choose an additional reward. The additional rewards depend on your
accomplishment level. The command is "Select."]
[You have ranked first.]
[Your Strength has increased by 1 point.]
[Your Agility…]
[Your magic level has increased by 1 level.]
[Your magic factor has increased by 2 points.]
[Will you ascend to the next floor?]

The allocated achievement points were not as generous as he had expected.
But the other rewards were that his magic level had increased and that he was
allowed to choose his additional reward.
<<It didn't increase all this while.>>
"Haa—"
Whatever the additional reward, Su-hyeun trudged heavily and sat on a dry patch of
ground where there was no Earthworm's blood.
He could not even open the door to reality in his current state.
A considerable amount of concentration was needed to open it. Thus, it was

impossible to open the door when Su-hyeun was poisoned.
Click—
Su-hyeun held the necklace that was hanging around his neck in his hand. It was the
treasure that was obtained on the second floor: the Sharyes' treasure. Though he did
not have many chances to use it, it was useful every time.
<<It would be great if this could be brought into reality.>>
Although it would cost quite a considerable amount of achievement points, it was an

item that valuable.
Whirl, whirl, whirl—
As Su-hyeun activated the necklace, a light came out and enveloped Su-hyeun's body.
A bright light green light fully wrapped around Su-hyeun's body and soon dissipated.
Su-hyeun's poisoned body felt lighter and more relaxed.
<<Indeed, there were some effects on poison.>>
It was an item that recovers the users' health three times.
These types of items were rare. Unfortunately, as its recovery speed was slow, it was
difficult to be used in combat, but it couldn't be matched with natural recovery.
Initially, the poison would have gradually spread in the body, and overcoming it
naturally would have had taken a long time.
Perhaps parts of the body that could not be recovered would be permanently
paralyzed or led to an early death, but the Sharyes' treasure was slowly neutralizing
the poison.
<<Such a pity it has limited usage… But I can't help it.>>
He could only use it two more times. He had expected to use up one chance when he
started the fight with the Earthworm and did not regret it.
<<With this… There should be no more remaining threats.>>
The Tower of Trials' system never lied. Su-hyeun believed so.
The lingering feeling had lessened. Thanks to that, Su-hyeun could ascend to the next
floor without worries.
<<Before that… >>
There was the additional reward that he could choose after his accomplishment level
had passed the 30 percent mark.
"Select."
[The command has been entered.]
[Please choose your reward.]
A long list of rewards appeared as soon as Su-hyeun spoke those words. Very much
similar to a website, various items were listed from top to bottom.
The ordinary stores used achievement points as their exchange currency, but these
were different.
[Stored accomplishment points: 70.]
<<Are the excess accomplishment points used as currency?>>
Although he had heard of some selected stores using a different method, he had not
encountered any in his past life.
Su-hyeun looked through the list of rewards.
It might have been hard to stumble upon this chance again in the future. He had to be
careful with his choice.
<<It's not bad.>>
There were many items worth purchasing using his accomplishment points.
There were skills, equipment, and consumer goods. Unfortunately, the skills that Su-
hyeun was unable to learn yet were not available for purchase.
Skills with a low requirement for magic level required fewer accomplishment points.
Su-hyeun could have bought a few skills, but he quickly turned them away.
<<The number of skills is not important.>>

Su-hyeun turned to the equipment and consumer goods. Unfortunately, none of the
skills he could learn right now were better than Flame. On the contrary, there were a
lot more useful items under the equipment category, some of which were of similar
standards to what he had used in his past life.
"It's better than I thought."
As it was tough gauging the difficulty on the 10th floor, it was the same for the
rewards.
Su-hyeun swiped down the rewards list. The items got more expensive as he went
down the list, but it also meant that those were much more valuable.
<<The quantity isn't important.>>
Similarly to skills, he thought the same way about equipment.
Instead of carrying several pieces of equipment on him, owning just one an

outstanding weapon or set of armor would be more efficient.
Su-hyeun went to the last item on the equipment and consumer goods category. The
most expensive was 65 points.
<<Is this the end?>>
He felt that something was lacking.
It was the armor category. Named the Heavenly God's Armor, the item had the effect
of changing its form according to the user's wishes. It also served as an extra lifeline,
with resistance to various attributes like fire, electric, poison, and more. It was great.
In truth, it was a piece of equipment that wouldn't normally be obtained on the 10th
floor.
But…
[Others.]
Su-hyeun's eyes turned to the last remaining category. It wasn't skills, equipment, or
consumer goods, but "others."
All other random items were gathered here. Su-hyeun did not pay special attention
to it at first, but he had decided to take a look at it; it didn't matter if it was lacking.
"Let's just take a look."
He selected the category, and various items appeared before him. Indeed, there was a
wide variety.
From musical instruments to water tanks and fashion items, some would make one
wonder why they were on sale. It was quite a spectacle. There were some useful
items amongst them, but they would be a waste of the points.
"All that for nothing."
However, the last item on the list caught Su-hyeun's eyes.
[Unidentifiable God's Egg]
[An unidentifiable egg. Not sure what will be hatched.]
An item worth 70 points.
But why is this even called an item? It was evident that something would be hatched,
but there was no way to tell what it would be.
"God's Egg."
It was the item's name that caught Su-hyeun's eyes.
"This is it."
He was confident that he would somehow be able to get the other items.
No matter how valuable the equipment was, Su-hyeun knew how to obtain the hero
level weapons, like Balmung, that he had used in his past life.
But it was different for God's Egg.
In fact, if an awakener was lucky enough to get this egg, the hatched item could
elevate the awakener's rank. It was one of the few items that Su-hyeun knew of but
did not know how to obtain.
"Although the unidentifiable explanation is quite worrying…”
But it seemed that there was no other better option.
"I've decided."
[You have used 70 accomplishment points.]
[You have purchased the "Unidentifiable God's Egg."]
As soon as he made the transaction, an egg with the size of a fist appeared before
him. It was a white egg without any patterns. Su-hyeun accepted it carefully with
both hands.
"It's smaller than I thought…”
Su-hyeun had thought it would be around the size of his body since it was called
God's Egg. As it was his first time seeing the Unidentifiable God's Egg, he didn't know
if it was normal.
"Anyway, with this, my job on the 10th floor is done…”
It was time to head back.
Most of the poison had been neutralized. It wouldn't be a problem for him to move
about. Su-hyeun stood up and reached his hands out.
And with all his strength, he grasped the air and opened the door.
Rip—!
The door back to reality opened. Su-hyeun's expression calmed down as he stepped
out.
"With this… Did I meet the minimum standards that I had planned out?"
He had cleared the 10th floor. It was the minimum standard that Su-hyeun had in
mind initially.
That was what he had been working hard towards. However, the results were
beyond his expectations.
"Although it took longer than expected…”
Step—
He grinned slightly as he passed the door.
"I've gotten a lot stronger than I had planned."
The standard was no different from when he cleared the eighth floor and obtained
the Flame skill.
"I can't delay any further."
Act 9
Time flowed differently in the Tower of Trials and reality. Although it was dawn on
the 10th floor, in reality, it was just 2 PM.
Su-hyeun headed to the nearest bank. He inserted his card and verified his bank
balance. A total of 1,210,000 Korean won was all that Su-hyeun had.
He had saved all the allowance that Shin Su-yeong sent him every month. The fact of
the matter was he had no use for the money. His only expenses were the occasional
gifts for Shin Su-yeong, so he had saved quite a lot.
Whirl—
He withdrew all the money at once.
Su-hyeun took the money and headed to Seoul by bus. He had to rely on his
memories to find his way from Seoul Station. Su-hyeun finally found the place he was
looking for, which was located in a reasonably large area.
The Awakeners Accreditation Authority.
It was a state-run institute that evaluated the awakeners' ranks, but wasn't just that;
the institute also monitored the foreign awakeners' movements and managed the
local awakeners.
"It has been a while."
The awakeners who got stronger every singe time they ascended the tower would
sometimes increase their skills and request reassessments. Therefore, an average
awakener would visit the institution three to four times in his life.
But of course, it was different for Su-hyeun.
There was no reason for him to be elevated in the first place. Su-hyeun was
previously a local awakener, but he wasn't a normal awakener.
He started heading in. He took his time, reminiscing about old times, as he had been
living all the while as Su-hyeun.
"What brings you here?"
A staff member greeted Su-hyeun brightly as he stepped into the lobby.
"I came to be evaluated."
"Is this your first time as an awakener?" The female staff member, who appeared to
be in her mid-20s, smiled and spoke calmly. She must have been one of those people
in Korea who had seen many awakeners in her life.
"It might take a while according to procedures. Please follow me."
Guided by the staff, Su-hyeun went through several procedures to verify his identity
and headed to the first floor. Several chairs were placed in the middle of a spacious
room, and many people were standing. As soon as Su-hyeun saw the five people
sitting on the chairs, he realized that they were awakeners like him.
"Oh?"
Su-hyeun recognized one of their faces.
"Choi Hak-joon?"
He was the awakener he had chanced upon at the Tower of Trials not too long ago. It
seemed that Choi Hak-joon had also come to be evaluated as an awakener.
"Please wait for 30 minutes until the ranking evaluation is prepared. You will be
called accordingly."
The woman who guided Su-hyeun quickly left after she finished speaking. Soon,
everyone in the room looked towards Su-hyeun.
"Oh?"
Unlike the other awakeners, Hak-joon narrowed his eyes and waved his hands as he
seemed to have recognized Su-hyeun, but he soon tilted and scratched his head as if
he was afraid that he recalled the wrong person. True, it would not be easy to
recognize Su-hyeun right away after only one encounter.
Since he had time, Su-hyeun approached Hak-joon. Actually, he was also curious as to
what kind of person he actually was.
Hak-joon asked, delighted that his memory did not fail him, "Indeed, we have met
before, right?"
"We did have a small encounter once on the second floor."
"Ah, I remember it now."
Hak-joon clapped his hands and laughed while looking at Su-hyeun. It seemed that
Su-hyeun's first impression was too intense to be forgotten.
"Are you here to be re-evaluated again?"
It seemed that Hak-joon had been evaluated once before.
Su-hyeun shook his head.
"No, it's not a re-evaluation."
"So it's your first time?"

"Yes."
"Hasn't a year passed since we last met?"
Usually, after a person has awakened, they were evaluated within a month because it
was the first time that they are magically awakened. After that, one would usually get
re-evaluated every time their magic level increased. It was the only reason why
awakeners were evaluated. One had to be ranked in order to enter the dungeons, and
then one could earn some big bucks there.
In this regard, it was rare to see someone doing their evaluation a year after
awakening.
"If you're unsure about the rank evaluation for awakeners…”
"I'm fully aware."
"So, you're not here for the money?"
There had been occasional instances, too, when those who awakened but did not
care about the money did not receive rank evaluations. They were usually rich
enough to decide not to work as an awakener.
"My objective…”
Truthfully speaking, it wasn't for the money at all — it was because that was the
minimum requirement to work as an awakener.
But…
"It's not my purpose, but I sort of need it."
He did not intend to let Shin Su-yeong suffer forever.

Hak-joon tilted his head at Su-hyeun's answer. He did not know how to accurately
interpret Su-hyeun's response.
<<So, money isn't his main objective?>>
Hak-joon figured that if money were his objective, this would not have been his first
evaluation.
Su-hyeun and Hak-joon continued to talk for quite a while. The conversation was
mostly Su-hyeun questioning Hak-joon. Su-hyeun was most curious about which
floor of the Tower of Trials had Hak-joon reached up until this point.
<<15th floor… He has gone up quite high.>>
They had first met on the second floor, but Hak-joon had now reached the 15th floor.
It was quite a feat considering that as one ascended the floors, the difficulty of the
trials increased as well. Moreover, Hak-joon had always chosen Level 8 trials, the
same as Su-hyeun had done in his past life.
<<If only he could continue to survive like this… >
Su-hyeun's perception of Hak-joon had changed a little. Hak-joon was better than the
person he had remembered. Su-hyeun felt a need to continue observing him.
As time went by, everything had been prepared for the evaluation. There were large
palm-shaped boards — with machines as tall as men — and the institute's
awakeners, who would be notarizing.
"Ares Guild's awakener Mr. Choi Hak-joon! Your evaluation will start now!"
Hak-joon, who had arrived the earliest, headed up upon being called.
<<The Ares Guild.>>

Ares Guild had been reaching out to Su-hyeun via Abyss Online, asking him to join
them. Although he did not have any intentions to join a guild, he recalled the name as
it was related to Hak-joon.
<<It was the guild that disappeared in his hands.>>
Joining hands with a crime syndicate, the guild had been supported in the dark to
foster power.
Hak-joon and Ares Guild would meet in the future, and the guild would disappear by
the high-profile awakener's hand. Su-hyeun had considerable interest in this matter
when he had learned of it. He had also planned to meet with the Ares Guild
sometime, but of course, not so soon.
Whirl, whirl—
Hak-joon injected magic into his palm and placed it on a large plate.
Soon, a stone that turned blue shined brightly. The examiner checked the machine
beside him and announced the results.
"Level four, Factor 44. Rank B!"
"Rank B?"
"Really?"
"He looks quite young… Already?"
The other awakeners started murmuring upon the examiner's announcement.
A B-rank awakener.
They were labeled the so-called high-class awakeners of the top 10 percent. Anyone
above a magic level of four, or with a magic factor over 40, was given the
qualification. Of course, on top of this, there were other methods to measure an
awakener's rank.
There were cases where one was measured by their skills stats, magic, sense of
battle, and other awakener's abilities through a particular examiner.
"B-rank within a year… Is that good?"
Though Su-hyeun knew that B-rank wasn't a low rank, it felt weird that the people
around him were reacting quite wildly to it. He thought that it was a given to be
ranked B if Hak-Joon had been challenging the level 8 trials up to the 15th floor.
<>
Come to think of it, he did not know anything about awakeners' standards. Su-hyeun
only had his first awakening half a year ago, and he did not have any exchange with
other awakeners.
<>
There were quite a lot of eyes here as the ranks were announced in a public area.
Each guild had Scouters. Their sharp eyes were watching out for any useful
awakeners to invite to join their guild.
"Next, Red Devil Clan's…”
The next awakener after Hak-joon was called up for evaluation. Hak-joon returned
with a cheerful face. It seemed that he was quite satisfied with his own rank.
They announced the ranks of the other four awakeners: C, C, D, D.
"Why am I a D-rank? Why?!" the last evaluated person shouted furiously. The
machine that verified the magic level had shown a magic level of three.
"Can't you see? Damn it! Don't you know the C-rank's standards?"
The by-products one could get from the dungeons between a C-rank and D-rank
were quite different, thus his huge reaction towards the results.
"Well… the readings kept changing, and we can't do anything about that either…”
"There's an error, so why lower the rank? Are you guys kidding me?"
"We can't do much about it. The manual says so…”

"Damn it, then do the evaluation again!"
The commotion continued. It didn't seem like it would end anytime soon.
Seemingly disliking the commotion, Hak-joon frowned and pointed at the

awakener's wrist. "Did you think you were the only person to have thought of using
items to cheat your way through?"
"What?"
"If you're scared, take off the bracelet and do the evaluation again. I don't know how
you could bring an item like that here in the first place……”
"Damn you…”
The flushed man muttered something to Hak-joon, then turned and left the room.
Su-hyeun grinned at Hak-joon, who was pouring out foul language. He had a more
refreshing personality than expected.
"You talk really well."
"He would be found out either way when taking the evaluation. There wasn't a need
to waste time, was there?"
"How did you know he used expedients?"
"I felt the magic flowing out from the bracelet. It could be an artifact that amplifies
magic."
An artifact that amplifies magic… An expensive item that could increase the magic
factor or level according to one's original level. There was no knowing how a C-rank
was able to obtain such an item, but Hak-joon saw through it accurately.
<<He has a keen sense… >>
Hak-joon was clearly a promising awakener.
<<His path was similar to mine in my past life… >>

Even the part where he had passed each floor's Level 8 trials mirrored Su-hyeun's
past life.
Hak-joon had the talent and took a smooth-sailing path in his guild. If he continued
on, he would be able to reach a similar standard as the past Su-hyeun.
<<But from which part of his life did his downfall start?>>
Choi Hak-joon had started to take a wrong path at some point in his life. He ignored
other's deaths and formed a twisted mindset. Eventually, he got himself killed.
In the future, Su-hyeun had coincidentally met him for the first time during a
massive outbreak from a particular dungeon.
"Outbreak? What has that got to do with me? Why should I care who dies or not?" he
asked indifferently.
Su-hyeun was curious as to whether the Choi Hak-joon he had met in his past life and
the one he saw now were the same person.
<<Just what, and how?>>
Had this man standing before him bring upon that disaster? Or had he seen Hak-joon
in the wrong light? Su-hyeun's thoughts grew deeper and deeper.
"Next, Mr. Kim Su-hyeun! Please come forward!"
The commotion died down, and Su-hyeun's name was called out. Su-hyeun stood up
from his seat. As soon as his name was called, all eyes had gathered on him and their
looks changed.
"Kim Su-hyeun?"
"That kid?"
"Really?"
Kim Su-hyeun.
The name that became the most famous over the past year. He had broken all the
records from the first through the ninth floors in the Tower of Trials.
However, his ascending speed wasn't that high. Compared to the other awakeners, he
was slow as a larva.
<<It's different for someone who challenged the Level 10 trials.>>
Level 10.
It was the highest difficulty level in the Tower of Trials, and it was known that the
trials were almost impossible to complete. Just by clearing the trial alone was
enough to garner interest on Kim Su-hyeun as an awakener. Moreover, the
overwhelming achievement points recorded on each floor added to his appeal.
"That guy? Really…?"
Su-hyeun was young in Hak-joon's eyes. He recalled that strangely alienated feeling
he had from Su-hyeun when they first met. That feeling was within reach.
Was he the Kim Su-hyeun that he knew?
It was understandable that he rejected his offer of challenging the Level 8 trial. It
was not that it was too difficult, but rather, it was too easy.
It was not only Hak-joon.
The others locked their eyes on Su-hyeun's back, thinking that they could somehow
finally uncover that mysterious veil and find out who the famous Kim Su-hyeun
really was.
"Mr. Kim Su-hyeun, please place your hand on this board and inject your magic. It
will evaluate your rank according to your magic level and factor."
Su-hyeun nodded.
<<What would the results be?>>
As expected, the examiner was a B-rank awakener as well. Although he had given up
climbing the Tower of Trials, he knew the name Kim Su-hyeun through the
grapevine.
It would be the same if one logged into Abyss Online now. There was a commotion
on Abyss Online every time Kim Su-hyeun's name appeared on the ranking system.
He had been waiting for Kim Su-hyeun to get his evaluation done.
"Please, inject your magic."
As soon as the examiner spoke, Su-hyeun placed his palm on the board.
And soon, his magic was injected.
Whirl, whirl—
Sizzle—
The board shook lightly, and a blue light flowed out.
Everyone's hearts started racing.
Those sensitive to magic focused on it, and those who were not as sensitive had their
focus on the number appearing on the machine. After a while, Su-hyeun's magic level
and factor appeared above the machine.
The examiner who verified it announced with a disappointed face.
"Level 3, Factor 29. Rank… C."
"Hmm…”
"Indeed."
"I had half-expected it."
Disappointed voices echoed throughout the place. There was no way such results
would appear if it were the Kim Su-hyeun they had known.
Although a C-rank wasn't considered low, the Kim Su-hyeun who had broken all
those records should have at least received a B-rank.
<<Although being ranked C after a year was quite a feat… >>

As he was looking closely at Su-hyeun, the examiner's face turned weird.
<<Is that not it?>>
Su-hyeun, who hadn't revealed his identity to the public, could not have been
evaluated at such a public place — Su-hyeun could have applied for another way of
evaluation just to hide his identity from the public.
<<Or it could be… >>
The examiner looked at Su-hyeun, who was returning to his seat, in suspicion.
<<He probably faked his magic level… >>

The sudden thought got the examiner shaking his head.
<<Impossible. Even so, this is only Kim Su-hyeun's first year as an awakener.>>
It was possible to fake one's magic factor. One would just have to reduce the amount
of magic that was injected. Still, it wasn't an easy feat. Aside from just having a high
magic level and factor, a high level of control was needed just to change one's magic
properties.
He could count with his fingers the number of people he knew who had that much
control over magic. They were world-class awakeners.
The first man amongst all awakeners who entered the Tower of Trials and had
survived until now had that level of magic control.
<<Even if he is a genius… it is impossible.>>
Moreover, what other reasons could there be for hiding his capabilities? The
examiner found his thoughts to be overboard. He started clearing up the place after
putting aside his interest in Su-hyeun.
Hak-joon found a black vehicle waiting for him after he exited the institution. It was
an expensive foreign car, but it wasn't that expensive for a somewhat established
awakener.
Whirl—
The backseat window was drawn down. The Ares Guild leader, Jung Dong-young,
who was waiting in the backseat, spoke to Hak-joon.
"All done?"
"Yes."
Click—
Hak-joon opened the backseat door and hopped in next to Jung Dong-young. Jung
Dong-young signaled the driver to get going.
"How did it go?"
"I got a B rank."
"Well done."
It was quite a satisfying outcome. Getting a B-rank just after a year of climbing the
Tower of Trials was a rare achievement. B-rank awakeners were one of the top ranks
now.
"What is the A rank's standard?"
Hak-joon's question contained his earnestness to achieve his next rank as soon as
possible. Feeling happy, Jung Dong-young laughed and replied.
"Level 6 and above, factor 55 and above."
"Do I have to meet both requirements?"
"Of course. The institution is also paying attention to awakeners of A-rank and
above. In fact, those who are above A-rank are the driving forces of this era."
"You're indirectly complimenting yourself. How great."
Jung Dong-young was one of the few A-rank awakeners in Korea.
Although it was almost the same as complimenting himself, his words weren't
entirely wrong. In fact, the main leaders of each existing guild were all A-ranked
awakeners.
"Besides that, I heard that there was an awakener called Kim Su-hyeun in the
evaluation today?"
"Yes."
"I heard his ranking was bad. Was it someone else with the same name?" Even if the
results were out, he seemed to be quite concerned. In fact, most guilds were eager to
recruit the rookie awakener Kim Su-hyeun.
"I think so."
"Hmm… What are the chances of him faking his magic level?"
"You know that can't happen, right?"
It was nearly impossible, even for Jung Dong-young, to have that level of magic
control. Regardless of if he were a genius, it wasn't something that Kim Su-hyeun,
who was just in his first year, could do.
Still, Jung Dong-young smacked his lips at the thought of it being fishy.
Compared to Hak-joon, Kim Su-hyeun, who had broken each floor's records, was
more talented.
<<Where is this kid and what is he doing?>>
Not receiving his evaluation until now would mean that the possibility of him not
receiving his re-evaluation was higher.
Jung Dong-young thought that Kim Su-hyeun might just be a child from a well-off
family.
<<C-rank should be enough.>>
Su-hyeun picked up his bag and checked his new awakener's registration card. The
letter C that was clearly printed on the card was evidence enough. This card was
required before entering public dungeons.
<<Well, I could get caught sooner or later… >>
Although he felt guilty for faking his magic level, he could not freely reveal his
identity either. He hated the fact that so many people were focused on him.
Furthermore, the institute's eyes were on him, too.
<<When I officially obtain my rank evaluation, it would be to do it after I have
obtained the S-rank.>>
It wasn't time for him to step into the limelight yet. Hence, he chose not to undergo a
confidential evaluation either. Regardless of confidentiality, as long as one had to
receive an evaluation, the institute would still find out about it.
<>
It wasn't tough to change his magic attributes. There might have been no other
awakeners in the guilds with better magic control than Su-hyeun.
No, it wasn't only that. Even in the future, there were no other awakeners with better
magic control than Su-hyeun. In terms of magic control, Su-hyeun was too
remarkable for any awakener to follow.
Deceiving magic attributes? So long as it was not increasing his magic level, it was as
natural as breathing to Su-hyeun.
<<There will be some nagging when I return home, right???
He had heard from Shin Su-yeong to return home quickly countless of times. Since he
was so stubborn, it was evident that he would be nagged at.
"Nagging isn't the problem…”
He checked the date on his smartphone and let out a small sigh. December 29, 2019.
The year 2020, which he had hoped would not arrive, was coming near.
Shin Su-yeong did not flare up as much as Su-hyeun had expected. Although she did
express that she was upset about him not being around for so long, it wasn't
something to be angry about. She seemed to be happier to see Su-hyeun after so long
than to be angry about it.
Su-hyeun logged onto Abyss Online after spending a whole day with Shin Su-yeong.
He didn't usually have anything to do on his computer; thus, he hadn't really gone
online.
<<Damn this old computer. I should have it changed soon.>>
This annoyingly sluggish computer was testing his patience. Suddenly, he felt lucky
to have gotten his awakener registration card.
<<After this, I should be able to rent a place of my own.>>
He just had to endure this frustration until then.
After he had logged into Abyss Online, Su-hyeun looked up "Ares Guild." Quite a few
articles appeared in the search results. It wasn't a huge guild, as Su-hyeun had
expected, but it was on the larger side.
<<Wait, aren't they famous for being quite a large guild?>>
It wasn't just how large Ares Guild was that got them famous.
"Guild leader Jung Dong-young. Former gang member. Fistfighter that suppressed all
of Gyeonggi Province, except for Seoul."
Jung Dong-young had an impressive portfolio. Apparently, he lent his fists to loan
sharks and even touched on human trafficking, as well as private loans and ring
payments.
It was revealed that the guild was training its own awakeners, and it was gaining
higher profits than before. Although they knew he was running a cleaner business
than before, those who knew Jung Dong-young said that he still hadn't cleaned his
filthy hands yet.
<<But it seems that he still has some skills.>>
No matter how great a gangster he was previously, Jung Dong-young could never
make a name for himself amongst awakeners as a fistfighter. Besides being known as
a fistfighter, he was also a great awakener. There weren't many A-rank awakeners in
this era.
"Hmm…”
In the end, the Ares Guild that Hak-joon belonged to wasn't a good guild. Even
though all awakeners in the guild weren't corrupt, there was no way the
subordinates would be competent if the higher-ups weren't scandal-free.
<<The conflict between Choi Hak-joon and Ares Guild… Just what kind of connection
is there between them?>>
There was no way of knowing now. Su-hyeun stuck out his chin and started reading
the past trending articles on Abyss Online. Su-hyeun didn't have much knowledge of
issues that had happened before 2020.
<<Most of these are crap.>>
Most of the articles until now were about specific large scale guilds, celebrities'
awakenings, and politics and laws about the awakeners. He had no interest.
Compared to what would be happening not too long from now, these were just minor
issues for pure entertainment. Su-hyeun briefly read through and remembered the
comments circulating on Abyss Online. Amongst them…
[January 1. We're gathering C-rank and above awakeners for a new dungeon attack
that appeared in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. It is an orange level dungeon. For
more details…]
There it was.
Su-hyeun's eyes lit up slightly at the post.
"January 1, 2020."
The part of the future that he had to change.
The beginning was right in front of him.
Act 10
Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
It was around a week ago when a dungeon had appeared on Yakshi Mountain, just a
short distance away from City Hall. Its difficulty level, orange, was second to last on
the easy side of the scale, with the easiest being red.
Lee Ju-ho, who was head of the Dungeon attack and a B-rank awakener, sat down
and laid across a table in the cafe.
"Why aren't there more people applying…”
"It's the year-end. On top of that, the frequency of dungeons appearing recently has
increased rapidly."
The man who sat across him, Kim Ba-reum, was Lee Ju-ho's co-leader of the dungeon
attack and also his long-time friend. They needed at least seven awakeners in a team
but had only gathered six, including both of them.
"Damn it. It's getting tougher now, too. As dungeons keep appearing, the price of
Ether is getting lower and people aren't gathering as much."
"What do you mean by getting tougher? Even if the prices fall, you could still make a
few hundred million won out of them."
Kim Ba-reum waved his hand as if telling his friend to not be funny. Lee Ju-ho
grinned and picked up his half-emptied Americano, knowing that his own words
were silly.
"But the things that happened recently have been quite weird. Aside from the
increasing number of dungeons appearing, the number of deaths is also increasing
during dungeon attacks."
"Since when was there no awakener who overestimated themselves and died during
dungeon attacks? The death count would increase as much as the numbers of
amateurs increase."
"Is that so?"
"Are you sure you didn't mishear that it's actually the Tower of Trials' death count
that is increasing? If it's so, there's no need to worry."
Lee Ju-ho did not pay much attention to Kim Ba-reum's words.
In the first place, his job as an awakener warranted high risks as well as high returns.
Of course, there weren't as many deaths from dungeon attacks up until now.
Amongst awakeners' accidental deaths, almost 99 percent had happened in the
Tower of Trials.
Because of that, those awakeners who were guaranteed a certain level of safety had
given up on climbing the tower.
<<It was so foolish of them.>>
Lee Ju-ho was a B-rank awakener. When Lee Ju-ho first started climbing the tower, he
had aimed precisely for a B-rank status. Even if a B-rank awakener joined a dungeon
attack, the allocated rewards were different. In fact, being a B-rank awakener in this
industry was quite a success.
The money he had earned over the past year had led him to live a decent life where
he could afford expensive foreign cars and lavish apartments.
<<Why do people foolishly stake their lives to climb the tower?>>
Lee Ju-ho had thought that his life from now on would be smooth sailing.
Ding—
Just then, Lee Ju-ho's smartphone rang. Who had contacted him? He checked his
phone. He quickly sat up while still checking the message.
"He's here!"
"Really? Now?"
"Yeah. He's a C-rank awakener."
"Are you sure he's not just phishing information? You uploaded that post on Abyss
Online."
"It couldn't be. I definitely said those who contacted needlessly would be sued."
"Well, if that's the case…”
No one would probably play a prank like this with the risk of getting sued. It meant
that they had really found the last member of the team.
"What's his name?"
"It's special. You should have heard of it too."
"Who is it?"
"Kim Su-hyeun."
"Kim Su-hyeun? Really?"
Any awakener would have known of the name. Kim Su-hyeun was the rookie who
had been breaking records starting from the lower floors. The other reason why he
got famous was also that he was a hidden figure without any rank.
"No, that can't be him. He's still a C-rank. If he's as good as the rumors say, he should
be at least a B-rank."
"True. So two of the same name?"

"Probably?"
"He doesn't belong to any guild?"
"Yeah, he doesn't belong to any. There's not much information on his profile either."
While typing on his smartphone to reply to the other party, Lee Ju-ho said, "This guy
is just right."
It was the new year. The year 2020.
Su-hyeun's feeling this morning was very different from yesterday's. Impossible as it
was, he had hoped for this day to not arrive.
"I'll be back."
In the wee hours of the morning, Su-hyeun had his breakfast and finished his
preparations. As if Shin Su-yeong wasn't scheduled to work for the day, she yawned
and returned to her room after preparing breakfast for Su-hyeun.
"Are you coming back late?"
"Maybe."
"Give me a call if you're staying out late."
There weren't many times when Su-hyeun returned early in the past year. He came
back even later than Shin Su-yeong, who always returned home late after work.
"Okay. I'll drop a text."
Su-hyeun said those words and left the house. In fact, he, too, had no idea how long it
would take this time.
Su-hyeun took the subway and bus. He finally arrived in front of Gwangju's City Hall
in Gyeonggi Province. Su-hyeun fished out his phone and dialed a number. Then, a
group of people who gathered on one side of the City Hall waved towards him.
"Over here."
There were a total of six people waving at him. They were the team of awakeners
who Su-hyeun would be entering the orange dungeon with.
"Are you Kim Su-hyeun?"
"Yes, it's nice to meet you."
"Yes, it's nice to have met you. I'm Lee Ju-ho. Over here…”
Lee Ju-ho introduced the others who were on the team. It seemed that both Lee Ju-
ho and Kim Ba-reum knew each other, and the others joined them for the first time
at the dungeon.
"Are you possibly that Kim Su-hyeun…”
A female C-rank awakener, Lee Eun-mi, looked at Su-hyeun with sparkly eyes.
Indeed, the name Kim Su-hyeun had always brought about huge interest.
It wasn't only her. The others — seemingly with the same thoughts — pricked up
their ears, curious to hear Su-hyeun's answer.
But that answer was filled in not by Su-hyeun, but Lee Ju-ho.
"Aye, he shouldn't be. Kim Su-hyeun here had recently received his C-rank evaluation
not long ago."
"Ah, so…”
"Aha."
Their faces were saying "Of course."
Su-hyeun laughed lightly at their reactions. He felt lucky that they understood
immediately, and he did not have to come up with excuses every time.
"You've requested for the dungeon attack party with the institute, right?"
"Yes. I did it yesterday."

"What is your position? Please give an introduction of which skills or weapons you
usually use."
"I usually use the sword and my auxiliary weapon is the spear. I don't have any items
yet, so the sword I borrowed from the institute is all I have."
A Property of Dimension Order Form was needed to bring items from the Tower of
Trials into reality. It was tough for awakeners below rank B to obtain the order form,
as a substantial amount of achievement points was required as payment. Thus, Su-
hyeun could only use the sword which he had loaned from the institute for now.
Although it was a considerable amount to rent, if he joined in on one dungeon attack,
he would receive enough to pay for it.
"If this is your first time at a dungeon attack, you might be slightly confused. I will
explain to you more about dungeons on the way there."
"Thank you."
As they started heading to the dungeon, Lee Ju-ho shared various stories with Su-
hyeun. Most were tips related to dungeon attacks, but amongst them, quite a few
portions were mixed with foolish advice — it seemed as though an elementary
student was teaching a college professor. Su-hyeun only felt frustration throughout
the explanation.
They hopped on two vehicles that were prepared for them and arrived near the Yashi
Mountain, where the dungeon appeared. The dungeon's entrance was a cave with a
glaring orange light. A few supervisors were on call at the entrance of the dungeon,
where it was marked with an off-limits sign. Lee Ju-ho approached them as the
party's leader and started with the procedures. Several conditions had to be met to
enter a public dungeon, and the appropriate procedures were laid out.
Kim Ye-eun, a short-haired female, walked towards Su-hyeun and said, "Surprisingly,
you don't seem to be nervous."
She seemed to be around Su-hyeun's age and despite not wearing any makeup, it was
clear she had a fair-toned and pretty looking face. Although the average age of
awakeners wasn't that high, they were still quite young.
Su-hyeun replied in a low whisper to her as she approached. "I'm actually quite
nervous."
"Really? It doesn't seem like it at all."
"It doesn't usually show on my face."
"Really? We're quite similar. I'm quite nervous, too." Ye-eun shuddered quite a bit
after those words.
"Why are you so nervous?" Su-hyeun asked. "Is this also your first dungeon attack
or…”
"No, it's not like that."
"Then what is it?"
"Actually, those people make me feel a little uncomfortable," Ye-eun said, pointing to
Lee Ju-ho and the other members of the party.
Su-hyeun narrowed his eyes at Ye-eun's answer.
"How so? Did those people turn you into an outcast or something?"
"It's not that, but…”
Ye-eun shook her head.
"Nothing, it's just a feeling."
"Hmm…”
Su-hyeun nodded his head at Ye-eun's reply, seemingly to understand her point of
view. Delighted, Ye-eun patted his shoulder lightly.
"Indeed, we have the same thoughts, right?"
"Ah, just a little…” Su-hyeun's words trailed off. There was no other reason to
continue, but there was one thing that he was sure of.
<<It wasn't just an ordinary accident. There was a disaster that is supposed to
happen here.>>
As he looked at the glaring orange dungeon entrance, Su-hyeun couldn't help but
give a suspicious look.
<<There were definitely six reported deaths from that dungeon.>>
There was a minimum requirement of seven members in a party to enter the

dungeon. The reason why the dungeon was the talk of the town was that nearly all
members of the party had died.
But still, there was a point of doubt there. Seven members entered the dungeon, but
only six were reported dead.
<<The bodies had been damaged… someone who would not reveal the truth… were
they killed by a monster or… >>
It could have been a planned attack. There was no way of knowing what had
happened at this place. Su-hyeun had no intentions of finding out either. Even so, it
wasn't his role to just leave the dungeon alone either.
<<I'm treating this as a new year's present. The dungeon is too big.>>
The first start to the year 2020.
As everyone got excited about the new year's arrival, lives were ended, bodies
crouched in the dungeon without anyone's knowledge.
The dungeon's difficulty level was measured using colors ranging from red to purple.
There were a total of seven levels.
The lowest level was the red color, and the highest level was the purple color. As the
color got closer to purple, the dungeon's difficulty got higher.
But at this period in time, dungeons with blue-colored difficulty and higher rarely
appeared here. To Su-hyeun's knowledge, the highest difficulty, the purple dungeon,
had only appeared once.
Fafnir.
The monster that was brought from the end of human history — it was the dungeon
where Fafnir appeared.
<<But an orange level dungeon isn't that low a difficulty at this time either.>>
Su-hyeun looked around the dungeon's surroundings as he stepped in. The

dungeon's entrance actually also acted as a door to another dimension. There was no
rule that the cave where the dungeon's entrance appeared also determined that the
dungeon itself was a cave. Perhaps it was coincidental, or for other reasons, that the
entrance of the dungeon assumed that of a cave.
Of course, the inside of the dungeon was a lot more spacious than the original cave.
"It's quite chilly and cold in here."
The rest nodded at Kim Ye-eun's comment. Although it was a step apart, inside the
dungeon was an entirely different dimension from reality.
Chilly weather was similar to the start of the winter season. Although the awakeners
did not feel extremely cold, it was the atmosphere within the dungeon that made
their skin more sensitive to their surroundings.
"Let's head inside first. I'll take the lead from here."
Lee Ju-ho started walking in front. Amongst all seven members of the party, Lee Ju-
ho was the only B-rank awakener. As one B-rank awakener had the power that was
equivalent to five or six C-rank awakeners, it didn't come off as suspicious that he
should lead the party.
<<Lee Ju-ho, Kim Ba-reum.>>
Su-hyeun locked his eyes on both of them.
<<Surprisingly, the possibility of either them being the instigator is low.>>
Considering the relationship amongst all the members here, only the two of them
were the closest. If one of the awakeners were murdered, it would be natural to be
suspicious of Lee Ju-ho, who was the highest-ranked awakener amongst them.
<<Then could it be a monster's work? Or could it be that corpse had just

disappeared?>>
The possibilities of either suspicion were valid. Since there were no leads in this
case, Su-hyeun had to openly consider all the possibilities that he could come up
with.
Su-hyeun carefully observed each and every member from all sides while following
the group from behind. Then, Lee Ju-ho suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Please stop for a moment."
Step—
As per Lee Ju-ho's orders, all members came to a stop behind him. He had sensed
something unusual right over the corner just ahead. Lee Ju-ho carefully walked over
and stood beside it.
Lee Ju-ho peeked over the corner slightly and looked back at the members with
widened eyes.
"What is it?" Lee Eun-mi, with the most impatient personality, asked. Lee Ju-ho bit
his lips lightly and answered.
“…I think that something must have gone wrong here."
"What do you mean?"
"Those guys…”
Lee Ju-ho pointed to the monsters that were just around the corner and replied.
"They aren't the usual monsters that should appear near the entrance of the
dungeon."
Lee Ju-ho's low voice trembled. Su-hyeun looked at Lee Ju-ho. He was the highest-
ranked awakener there. He should have met lots of other monsters of that level and
should have known very well about the dungeon's characteristics.
<<He must have noticed something strange, too.>>

The dungeon wasn't normal; it was a dungeon that evolved day by day. Su-hyeun was
already aware that it wasn't an ordinary orange dungeon. The same went for Lee Ju-
ho. Besides Su-hyeun, he was the most veteran amongst everyone else.
<<An evolving dungeon. Instead of being an orange dungeon, it should be a yellow

level dungeon by now.>>
Lee Ju-ho, too, could vaguely sense this fact. Although he might not have been as
confident as Su-hyeun, he stood at a crossroad, finding it difficult to make a quick
decision.
If so, then…
<<What kind of reactions will those who are present here make?>>
It would have been a difficult situation for anyone, but it was even more so for Lee
Ju-ho, who had verified their identities with his own eyes.
Lee Ju-ho started his explanation.
"Lizardcops. A one-eyed lizard type monster with a size of over two meters. Aside
from its muscular build, it is very agile and uses a particular type of magic. It's quite
a tricky monster."
"How many of them?"
"There are five of them."
"Isn't that number manageable?" Kim Ye-eun asked, wondering what the problem
was. She suggested that Lee Ju-ho was such a skilled awakener that the Lizardcops
shouldn't be much of a problem for him to deal with. The others started to agree
with Kim Ye-eun's words. Amongst them, the one with the most confidence was Ahn
Min-seok.
"If it's Lizardcops, I have hunted them in a previous dungeon. Handling five shouldn't
be tough." He spoke confidently, hitting his chest to imply that he wouldn't mind
taking the lead. With an experienced awakener standing out, anxiety was lifted from
everyone's faces.
However…
"I know that in normal dungeons, the stronger monsters usually appear much
deeper, and only as we get nearer to the boss monster," Su-hyeun, who had been
staying silent, said. He had everyone's full attention. "Handling five Lizardcops
wouldn't be a problem now, but the number would continue to increase, or higher-
level monsters would appear later on."
The team seemed surprised at Su-hyeun, who had said that it was his first time
joining a dungeon attack. Ahn Min-seok, who had the most experience in dungeon
attacks, asked, "That is the nature of some dungeons. Aren't there some dungeons
where their difficulty level does not change even if we go deeper in?"
"If you focus on thinking about the best and not the worst as you progress…” Su-
hyeun replied, not only just to Ahn Min-seok, but also to the other members, “…you
probably would not live for long."
It was a lesson that Su-hyeun learned from living as an awakener all this time. They
weren't just empty words, but something that he realized from his past experiences.
As he said, there were many types of dungeons. Some had only one boss, while some
had a slight change in difficulty after exploring deeper into the dungeon. Some
dungeons took the style of the Tower of Trials, giving special missions. One could
only be called a skilled awakener if he remembered the various dungeons'
characteristics and was able to deal with them in the right situations.
<<Their basics aren't up to standard.>>
In this regard, most of them, except Lee Ju-ho, seemed to care less about the
situation at hand.
<<Maybe… it's due to the significantly low death counts at dungeon attacks during
this period.>>
He understood — most awakeners' deaths that were being reported happened in the
Tower of Trials. Most people had probably thought that dungeon attacks weren't that
dangerous. It was the same for Lee Ju-ho. His gaze seemed to indicate that he had no
intention to give up on the dungeon attack.
It seemed that he was just surprised at the unexpected situation. Lee Ju-ho soon put
on his composed expression.
<<It's hopeless.>>
Though Su-hyeun knew that they would not turn back, it was a pity. If only they were
a tad more cautious and had presumed not the best, but the worst…
<<Humans always become more self-aware after an accident has happened.>>
“…Su-hyeun, didn't you say that this is your first dungeon attack?" Lee Eun-mi asked,
feeling slightly offended.
Su-hyeun chuckled at her question and replied, "Well, that's what I had heard from
others. Shouldn't I gather more of such information since it's my first?"
"It's all just theories! What do you know?"
"Stop, stop." Lee Ju-ho stopped Lee Eun-mi from raising her voice at Su-hyeun. "Do
you think it's good to get into a fight amongst ourselves before the actual battle?
Furthermore, I think this dungeon's difficulty could increase, so let's not do this from
the start."
After the party's leader said those words, Lee Eun-mi could not do anything else to
Su-hyeun. However, she still felt hurt, and her eyes continued to linger on Su-hyeun.
"Let's see if you're as capable as you speak," she spat. She seemed to fiercely hold
onto grudges. She was also quite fierce tempered, seeing that she didn't give up even
after her previous words.
"Yes. Have a good look"
"Why, you!"
It seemed like Su-hyeun had no further intentions to continue the argument. Su-
hyeun, who had intentionally provoked her, contemplated slightly and looked at the
others.
<<It seems like they won't stop here… >>
Lee Eun-mi, Ahn Min-seok, and Kim Ye-eun. Lee Ju-ho and Kim Ba-reun… and the last
guy who hadn't spoken a word up until now.
<<The ones who had expressed the most opinions on this dungeon attack were Lee
Eun-mi and Ahn Min-seok.>>
The possibility of Lee Ju-ho being the catalyst had just lowered.
Though there was the possibility of it being purely an accident or an unintentional

murder, Su-hyeun was more focused on finding the culprit who planned the killing.
Su-hyeun had always presumed the worst over the best. It would be a mistake if the
person who had assumed the worst had only prepared for the best.
<<Indeed, the most suspicious person… >>
"I will lead the party then." Lee Ju-ho walked in front as he spoke. The dungeon
attack had officially started.
There's no time for him to be immersed in his thoughts. Su-hyeun nodded his head
and followed behind Lee Ju-ho.
<<I'm a C-rank now.>>
He was confused by his identity for a while. A C-rank awakener. A magic level of
three, and a magic factor of 29. Su-hyeun was now known as an awakener of that
standard.
<<If it's that standard… >>
Schwing—
Su-hyeun thought for a while as he pulled out the sword — which was mixed with
Ether stones — that he had borrowed from the institute.
<<It'll be quite sufficient.>>
Lee Ju-ho felt anxious from the start.
Five Lizardcops. They would be tricky for C-rank awakeners. They had to be on their
toes when facing them.
Lee Ju-ho had been startled at the sight of the Lizardcops after they first entered the
dungeon, but that was not the end of his problems. The other members who joined
the dungeon attack turned out to be a huge liability. Besides the fact that he had not
verified their capabilities, their teamwork was rocky from the start.
<<Especially this guy.>>
Lee Ju-ho slightly glanced back at Su-hyeun, who was following right behind him.
<<It would be great if he were half as capable as the real Kim Su-hyeun… >>
He could only be anxious since it was his first dungeon attack with this group.
Though he had accepted Su-hyeun just to fill up the positions, Lee Ju-ho realized the
situation had just become tougher.
"Once I give the signal, Ahn Min-seok and Kim Su-hyeun will attack together. The
remaining four will provide support from behind, and from there, Eun-mi and Ba-
reun will move closer when they get the chance."
A perfect order. He seemed to have quite a substantial amount of experience in

dungeon attacks. Su-hyeun, too, was fully aware of how to manage attacks at
situations like this.
"So…”
Lee Ju-ho turned around the corner and shouted.
"Let's go!"
Creak—!
Lee Ju-ho was first to charge towards the Lizardcop, which was waiting around the
corner. He pulled out a long sword and increased his speed by using magic. As a B-
rank awakener, he used the skill Swift to distract the Lizardcops.
Pop, pop pop—
Rip—
Lee Ju-ho's long sword made a cut through the Lizardcop's stomach.
Step, step—
Soon after, Lee Ju-ho went between the remaining Lizardcops. The Lizardcops
released their long, sharp nails and swung, attacking Lee Ju-ho.
Whip—
The Lizardcop's tail brushed past in front of his eyes. Lee Ju-ho's eyes widened at the
attack that scratched his nose.
<<These guys… their movements… >>
They were more agile than he had known.
The flustered Lee Ju-ho hurriedly distanced himself from the Lizardcops, but the five
Lizardcops followed Lee Ju-ho closely, as if angered by the human who had suddenly
attacked them.
"Su-hyeun, Min-seok, you must be careful…” Lee Ju-ho turned to warn the other two
men who were at the front lines attacking the Lizardcops with him.
But…
<<Oh?>>
He could not see Su-hyeun.
<<Where did he go?>>
As Lee Ju-ho was looking around for Su-hyeun.
Whack—
A new form fell quickly from the sky and dived on the backs of the Lizardcops. The
flash of a sword coincided with the Lizardcops' screams.
Rip—
Su-hyeun's new form quickly moved between the Lizardcops as he pursued them in
a flash. He stepped on the sudden swerve of the Lizardcops tail, leaped twice in the
air, and slashed the Lizardcop's eye with his sword.
Keeeek—!
He was fast.
No, not just fast.
He was elaborate and accurate. He made no unnecessary movements and without

even using any special skills, Su-hyeun tackled the Lizardcops alone.
<<Did I… misunderstand something?>>
A new C-rank awakener.
A rookie at dungeon attacks.
That was the Kim Su-hyeun that Lee Ju-ho knew.
Keeeeek—
Su-hyeun's sword poked the Lizardcop's eye. The Lizardcop, which lost its only eye,
screamed while covering its face with both hands.
Whish—
At the same time, a thick tail flew towards Su-hyeun. He had already known that it
would do this, so Su-hyeun leaped into the air and scanned the whole situation.
<<For now, I've cut its sight.>>
There was one important thing to remember when dealing with Lizardcops, and that
was to target its one and only eye. This was the only weakness of the Lizardcop.
Compared to its other abilities, its sight was narrow and lacking.
Of course, losing just its sight alone would not totally incapacitate the beast, as it still
had its other keen senses. Still, losing its sight had primarily affected its fighting
power.
Whip—
Su-hyeun leaped in the air and circled above. He couldn't use skills like Flame
because it was a skill that required a magic level of four.
Now, Su-hyeun could only make use of properties with a magic level of three. The
same went for his magic factor, which could only be used up to a specific limit.
Luckily, it was enough to handle five Lizardcops.

<<A total of three Lizardcops with normal sight.>>
Su-hyeun stepped firmly on the cave's wall and charged towards the Lizardcops.
<<I'll finish them off swiftly.>>
A sharp sensation swept through his's body. The three Lizardcops were already
focused on Su-hyeun. The distance between them was narrowed in an instant. The
Lizardcop's tail made a rough swishing sound and pounded on Su-hyeun's face hard.
Boom—
Su-hyeun's new form used Leap to narrow the distance, and appeared before them
after getting past their tails.
Woong—
Magic pooled at the tip of the sword. At the same time, Su-hyeun's sword stabbed
into the Lizardcop's eyes. Su-hyeun avoided the Lizardcop's nails while letting go of a
scream. He drew his body in, sliding amongst their legs.
Creak—
There was a Lizardcop standing at the back.
Su-hyeun's new form that had slid along the ground disappeared from that same
position.
The Lizardcop lost track of Su-hyeun's movement, turned its head around, and found
him soon after. It was looking in the wrong direction right from the start.
Su-hyeun wasn't situated left nor right, nor was he under it, but just right above.
Kyaaa—!
Su-hyeun's sword penetrated both the Lizardcop's eye and head. The once screaming
Lizardcop had started to go on a rampage, but Su-hyeun did not let go of his sword.
Crack—
Su-hyeun wrapped his other arm around the Lizardcop's neck and strangled it. The
Lizardcop shook its body harder to resist the force.
[You used the skill Berserk.]
It was a skill that maximized one's physical abilities depending on one's fatigue,
health, and blood loss which Su-hyeun obtained back when he fought the second
floor's boss, the Shayres' chief.
For a long time, Su-hyeun had been working hard to increase his proficiency with
this skill. As a result, though there might have been a slight loss in proficiency, Su-
hyeun could now activate the skill at any time.
[Your Strength has been increased partially.]
[Your Agility has increased partially.]
[Your Health has been lost partially.]
Su-hyeun used all of his available strength to strangle the Lizardcop. After being
stabbed in its eye and head, the strangled Lizardcop's body stiffened.
The result might have been different if it was unharmed, but since its head was
punctured, it didn't have much strength.
Flop—
After Su-hyeun let go, the Lizardcop's body fell to the ground.
The others looked blankly at Su-hyeun, who flushed slightly at their stares.
"What are you doing?"
Su-hyeun looked at the party's leader, Lee Ju-ho, and spoke.
"Not dealing with the others."
One Lizardcop died but the remaining four Lizardcops each lost their only eye and
vision.
Moreover, in a situation where his power was predominate, everything had been
well set up. The battle against the Lizardcops ended quickly.
As the battle ended, Lee Ju-ho verified if there were any casualties. Indeed, there
were none.
"You fought better than I had expected," Lee Ju-ho said as he approached Su-hyeun.
Su-hyeun was getting rid of the blood on his sword after the battle.
"Is that a compliment? Thank you, I guess."
"Are you possibly the Kim Su-hyeun everyone is talking about?" Even if he knew that
the possibility was low, all he could do now was clarify. The abilities which he had
showcased earlier were unbelievable, much like the acclaimed Kim Su-hyeun.
"Just think of me as an awakener who fights relatively well."
"Mm…”
What an ambiguous reply.
But it was obviously not positive. Lee Ju-ho had thought that Su-hyeun probably
thought it rude to be asked such a question.
<<Well, there was nothing much to the skills that he had used earlier.>>
Lee Ju-ho was an awakener with a magic level of four. He could at least sense that the
magic properties which Su-hyeun had were not of the same standards as he had.
Regardless of how well Su-hyeun was as a fighter, it was impossible for him as a C-
rank awakener to change his ranking.
It was an unnecessary suspicion. Lee Ju-ho thought of it that way and shook his head.
Anyway, he was glad to see that Su-hyeun had fought well up until now.
"If you have the chance, do take a special rank evaluation. According to your
standards, there shouldn't be a problem for you to obtain a B-rank."
A special rank evaluation does not take into account one's magic level or factor but
instead looks upon one's stats and combat sense and other attributes to proceed
with the assessment. It was the type of evaluation that rarely took place as it was
cumbersome and also rare for an awakener to be that capable, exceeding his magic
level.
But Lee Ju-ho thought that Su-hyeun had better capabilities compared to his magic
level and factor.
<<The abilities he showed earlier were definitely higher than a C-rank awakener.>>
At the same time, when Lee Ju-ho was flustered at how strong the Lizardcops were,
he was also able to verify his team member's abilities personally. He was relieved
that his ally had such extraordinary abilities, though it might not have been the same
if he were an enemy.
"Thank you for saying that. I will definitely consider it after completing this dungeon
attack."
Su-hyeun looked around after replying Lee Ju-ho. Ever since he showcased his
abilities, Su-hyeun was always observing his team member's facial expressions. He
wanted to find out who else felt hostility for the fact that there was a member who
had outstanding skills.
<>
After gathering after himself, Su-hyeun turned and followed the party from behind.
<<When will he show his true self?>>
The monsters that appeared subsequently were of similar standards as the

Lizardcops. Still, the others knew that Lee Ju-ho was stronger than the monsters, so
they weren't too big a deal.
Above all, Su-hyeun's performance had exceeded expectations. Su-hyeun continued

with a similar performance as the B-rank awakener Lee Ju-ho.
"This dungeon attack should be smooth sailing if it continues on like this."
"Yeah. As compared to when we first entered, the difficulty has not increased. Rather,
the monsters that appeared subsequently were about the same as the Lizardcops."
They had let their guards down. Lee Ju-ho, too, had no longer felt threatened nor any
danger as compared to the start.
Kim Ye-eun was stuck closely to Su-hyeun.

"Did you know?"
"What is there to now?" Su-hyeun felt uncomfortable with Kim Ye-eun sticking
around him and trying to engage in a conversation with him. It was annoying, and
the topics were mostly about his personal life.
"Aren't you acting a little uncomfortable?"
"Because you're always asking about things that are difficult to answer."
"I want to give you a piece of good information. Don't you want it?"
Good information? Su-hyeun shut his mouth, contemplating whether or not to listen
to it. According to his experience up until now, she would continue to speak from
here.
And sure enough…
"You know, those two people there."
Her eyes darted quickly to Lee Ju-ho and Kim Ba-reun, who were both leading the
team in the front.
"I dug up some information about them before; they have quite a bad reputation."
"What do you mean by that?"
"There were a lot of problems when they were dividing the resources after dungeon
attacks. They either divide resources unfairly to their team members or would
request for more resources by coming up with excuses using the accidents which
happened in the dungeon."
Su-hyeun seemed to have understood where she was coming from. For someone who
had experienced dungeon attacks for quite a while, it would be common for him to
have done this if he is obsessed with money. They would argue on the distribution of
the Ether stones. If some disagreed, they would use violence on them. Such
awakeners would never have accepted others stronger than themselves.
"I'll remember that," Su-hyeun answered.

Kim Ye-eun gave a curious look at Su-hyeun, who did not respond much to such a
sensitive story.
In fact, it was not something that Su-hyeun was interested in.
<<What else is there to know?>>
There were tons of people like them with such evil character. The real dangerous
ones were those who created accidents just to reduce the number of resources that
would be divided amongst the group.
According to Kim Ye-eun's words, at least Lee Ju-ho wasn't that bad. But of course, he
wasn't so nice to be entirely cleared of that possibility either.
Although they had entered quite deep into the dungeon, there weren't any more
monsters that appeared. The scale of the dungeon was more extensive than
expected. It seemed that there was no end to it even after having walked for hours.
<<The dungeon is getting wider.>>
The dungeon got bigger as they explored further in. The dungeon was initially 20
meters wide but had now grown five times larger.
<<There should be a valid reason for the interior of the dungeon to have grown by
this much… >>
"There — isn't that a door over there?" Ahn Min-seok narrowed his eyes and
squinted into the distance.
A huge door was located at the end of this dungeon. The thick and dark-colored door
seemed to be the entrance to another dungeon.
"A door? In this kind of place?"
It was the type of door that even the most experienced Lee Ju-ho had never seen
before.
Although he had entered dungeons similar to this one various times, he had never
even heard of one that had an artificial iron door in it.
"What shall we do?" The same anxiousness that he had felt when they first entered
the dungeon returned.
Ahn Min-seok hit his chest hard at Lee Ju-ho's question. "What do you mean? We
should obviously enter. What difference does a door make?"
"That's right. This door might be the end of this dungeon, too. It's ridiculous to turn
back now."
Most of the responses were in agreement. Su-hyeun watched them silently.
Lee Ju-ho turned the question to Su-hyeun.
"Mr. Su-hyeun, what do you think?"
"I was hoping to turn back…”
Was it an unexpected answer?
The others' expressions stiffened at Su-hyeun's words. Su-hyeun then changed his
words slightly. "But if everyone is in agreement, I'll follow as well."
"Phew."
"Ha."
A thankful sigh of relief.
With this, everyone was in agreement. Although Lee Ju-ho was conflicted, eventually,
he had no thoughts to turn back. Lee Ju-ho grabbed the doorknob as he nodded his
head.
"Then, I'll open it now."
Creak—
As he pushed forward, the heavy iron door opened. Lee Ju-ho took the lead, and each
of the members entered into the dark.
Behind the door was a vast and spacious cave. Su-hyeun's eyes narrowed as he
looked around the dimly lit place.
<<It might be here… >>
The others might have thought that this was the end of the dungeon, but Su-hyeun
thought otherwise.
<<Not the end, but the start of the real dungeon attack.>>
The amount of magic felt in the dungeon from earlier was different. The others
probably had felt the same, as they started talking with anxiety in their voices.
[Welcome into the dungeon.]
[The trial will start from this moment on.]
Suddenly, a message appeared not only in Su-hyeun's but also in everyone's minds.
Creak—
Boom—!
The door behind them closed tightly with a massive sound.

Act 1
"W-what?"
"The door…”
"Damn it, it won't open!"
Bam bam—!
Even Ahn Min-seok, who was at the back of the party, knocked hard on the door. No
matter how hard he swung his magic-filled fist, the door did not budge. Everyone's
expressions were flustered at the thought of being locked in.
Su-hyeun, who had no intention of getting out, observed the surroundings quietly.
With this vast space, the possibilities of various missions could be endless.
<<Maybe we won't be allowed to leave until we clear this trial.>>
He had gone through these types of missions. They would only appear in dungeons
above the yellow level.
Similarly to the Tower of Trials, only when the mission was cleared could the team
proceed with their dungeon attack.
What the team had gone through up until now couldn't be counted as the dungeon at
all. It was merely the dungeon's entrance, also known as a warm-up stage.
"A trial out of nowhere… What is this…” Even Lee Ju-ho was taken aback.
And unlike before, they were another level of flustered.
A dungeon that gave missions. Lee Ju-ho had heard of dungeons like these, too, but
the main problem was that the dungeon was of a higher level, too difficult for them
to handle with their own strengths.
<<Something must have gone wrong.>>
Just then, a bell rang in everyone's mind.
[All of you have been locked in here. To escape, you will have to choose one of two
ways.]
[First, survive this trial. A group of monsters will attack you every 30 minutes. You
can escape if you successfully defend 10 attacks in total.]
[Second, use the key to get through the door opposite this room. A horde of monsters
will come out from there. Escape from them first. Your safety will not be
guaranteed.]
[The trial will begin in 10 seconds.]
The trial had been explained quite thoroughly. It was a mission that was often given
in the Tower of Trials. Although it did not have the same scenarios as the ones Su-
hyeun had encountered, the rules were simple enough for this trial.
But of course…
<<The trial itself might not be that easy.>>
A total of 10 attacks.
Perhaps the attacks would become stronger each wave. The minimum standard
would be the ones that they had encountered earlier.
<<The monsters we've met until now… could have been some sort of warning.>>
The dungeons weren't made at random. Except for the lowest red dungeons, most
dungeons were made with a fixed frame, similar structure, or even a trap.
Su-hyeun accepted that the monsters they met outside were a warning — if he
couldn't take those on, he would not have the right to take on the dungeon's trial.
Of course, hunting down the monsters and clearing the trial were two different
matters.
<<Door.>>
Su-hyeun checked the opposite door, which the system had mentioned.
<<What could be behind that door… >>
The second choice.
Open the door opposite, and escape from the horde of monsters that would come
from there. Compared to the first choice, it was a choice that could never be
considered safe.
"Now, now, what should we do?" Lee Eun-mi asked with an anxious look.
Their way out was blocked. The tightly closed door did not seem like it would be
broken or even open again.
"First… I think we'll have to clear this trial."
Su-hyeun nodded his head at Lee Ju-ho's reply. Indeed, Lee Ju-ho was the fastest at
making decisions in the group.
<<But the problem is can we survive it?>>
No, they wouldn't make it. Zero percent possibility.
He was certain because it was something that had been verified once in the future, a
verified truth.
<If I wasn't around… >
Only one variable had changed from that future and it was that Su-hyeun was here
now.
Formerly, everyone had died in this trial. There was no exception.
They had two choices and there was no way of telling which was better.
<<It won't make much of a difference regardless of what choice was made.>>
Su-hyeun had made enough verifications on the dungeon's difficulty. Although Lee
Ju-ho had great strength, the other members did not. With this standard, one could
not even make it past the yellow level.
"What about the method? Which would be better?" Kim Ba-reun asked Lee Ju-ho's
opinion.
Lee Ju-ho opened his mouth while thinking.
"What does Mr. Su-hyeun think?" He turned the arrow towards Su-hyeun.
It seemed that Lee Ju-ho thought Su-hyeun's capabilities would be second to himself.
Should they fight the horde in ten divisions or take them on all at once?
However, if one chose to open the door opposite, they would be given the option to
run, which also meant that it was possible to escape.
But…
"We mustn't open that door," Su-hyeun replied, without thinking twice.
It was an obvious answer.
"Why did you say that?" Lee Ju-ho needed a more detailed answer.
The others had the same reactions. Some had thought it would be more convenient
and better to open the door and escape from the horde of monsters.
"Didn't you already receive the explanation? When we open that door, our only
option is to run."
"Ah…” Lee Ju-ho nodded at Su-hyeun's answer, seemingly to have understood.
But there were, of course, some who could not understand. Ahn Min-seok had the
words "I don't get it" written blatantly across his face.
Su-hyeun continued his explanation after letting out a sigh.

"When the door isn't open, we have the option to defend. But once the door is
opened, this option will change to escape. So, which choice would have a higher
difficulty?"
"It would be, of course, to escape." An obvious answer.
But Ahn Min-seok's opinion was different.
"But instead of fighting and winning this, isn't running an easier way out? There's no
need to fight."
"That's right. Instead of defending the 10 divided attacks, it would be more

convenient to just escape from a huge horde of monsters."
"Then why…”
"Our aim isn't to survive, but rather to continue on the dungeon attack."
"Ah…” Ahn Min-seok had finally realized the main point which he had been missing
out on.
The trial and the mission.
As he was too focused on those, he had forgotten the most crucial part. They weren't
at the Tower of Trials but in reality. And within a vast dungeon at that.
Unlike the Tower of Trials, where one had to only focus on surviving and clear the
trials, in the dungeons, one had to put his focus only on the dungeon attack itself.
So, it was only right for them to put their focus on the dungeon attack and not on
running.
<>
It was evident as to why they had wanted to run away from this trial. In a situation as
dangerous as this, it would be safer and more convenient to make the choice of
escaping.
An unfamiliar place, an unfamiliar situation, an unpredictable number of monsters,

and a fight that no one wanted to happen…
[You have five more minutes.]
How friendly.
As the countdown reached five minutes, the door opposite shook slightly. The system
seemed to be urging them to make a decision fast, but the members had already
made their choices.
"As expected… It would be better to wait."
Probably thinking that Su-hyeun's words were more appropriate, Lee Ju-ho voted for
his choice.
There were no oppositions.
<<Five minutes remain.>>
Su-hyeun drew his sword, stood at his spot, and closed his eyes.
Five minutes, an extremely long time, had started.
[You have one minute left. Please prepare for the attack.]
Cr— creak—
Kong, kong—!
Grrrr—
The door opposite opened slightly.
The monsters' cries could be heard from that door, which was left ajar. Although they
couldn't break through the door and rush in, they could guess that there were
countless monsters beyond that door.
"Um, that door wouldn't open suddenly without notice, right?"
"Ayy, it couldn't be…”

"But we're inside the dungeon now. There weren't any guarantees that the system
would keep its promise…”
The wavering voices were full of anxiety.
As this was their first real trial, it was quite scary. The members had suspicions that
the door might open without any notice, and the horde of monsters would rush out.
<<30 seconds.>>
Su-hyeun had been counting down the seconds since the five-minute mark from
earlier.
The trial given by the dungeon would be starting soon.
Step, step—
Su-hyeun took the lead and walked towards the door.
The door might not open fully at all. As it was only the first stage, only a small group
of monsters would be let out through the door and then closed.
<<Otherwise, it could be opened just to give us a scare.>>
Whichever was the case, it wouldn't change the fact that 10 groups of monsters
would rush out from the door wave after wave.
The system never lies. That was an absolute rule and principle that would not
change, even in the future.
Step—
Su-hyeun strode across the cave and opened his eyes. He had injected some magic
into his sword's blade.
Looking at Su-hyeun, who took the lead without fear, their murmurs stopped
altogether; gathering the army's morale was that easy.
As long as one had shown no fear and stepped up first, that courage was contagious.
More accurately, the members' fear had lessened. If one saw another who felt no fear
in the same situation, it would make him believe that the situation which they were
currently in now was not dangerous at all.
"10 seconds."
Su-hyeun pooled magic in his voice and spoke. That voice was heard loud and clear
in his team members' minds.
"Please be prepared."
After those words, Lee Ju-ho quickly walked up to Su-hyeun's side.
The same went for Ahn Min-seok. Instinctively, they got into each of their own roles
and went into positions.
10 seconds. It was sufficient for each of them to get into their own positions.
It was a time that no one had the freedom to be concerned over. The moment when
everyone was prepared to fight the monsters.
Slam—!
Kyaaaa—!
As the gigantic iron door opened, monsters came rushing out from behind it. The
number of monsters well over 10.
Boom—!
The door that had been wide open closed in a flash. It seemed that this was the
number of monsters for the first wave.
There was a wide range of monsters.
Gorger Ravens, Moss Salamanders, Lizardcops, and Black Spiders.
They were all familiar monsters.
Rip—!
Su-hyeun's feet slipped to the front.
Splat—
Su-hyeun's new form quickly leaped into the air.
<<Start from the Gorger Ravens.>>
Su-hyeun had already decided which monsters to attack first the moment he saw the
group of monsters.
The Gorger Ravens were monsters with an extraordinary head. As they could fly in
the air, there was a higher possibility that their team members positioned behind
would be attacked.
Slash—!
The Gorger Ravens' sharp claws came flying towards Su-hyeun's head.
At that moment, Su-hyeun's new form had disappeared.
Caw—?
The Gorger Ravens, which momentarily lost their target, glanced around left and
right in search of him.
Stab—
Su-hyeun's strong hand grasped the Gorger Raven's wing tightly to prevent further
movement.
"Firstly…”
Kyaaaa—!
As the Gorger Raven's wings were broken, it lost its sense of direction.
Caw—!
"One wing."
Su-hyeun, who had his fist in the air, slammed straight down onto the raven's back.
The raven's wing, which has already been broken, could not overcome the force and
fell to the ground.
Swick—
Su-hyeun stepped on the falling Gorger Raven's back and leapt into the air.
The only monster that could fly in the air was the Gorger Raven.
The other monsters were on the ground.

Taking the lead, Lee Ju-ho pulled out his sword and blocked the incoming monsters
while Ahn Min-seok shielded the others by swinging the knuckles on his fist. The
long distant support members went on an attack spree on the monsters. They were
all fighting well in their allocated positions.
<<That side seems to have no issues… >>
True, one would have to struggle from the start and have to paint the remaining
picture accordingly.
Now, all that was left was for them to color the picture. Su-hyeun trusted that they
would be able to do their part.
<<I'm heading to the back.>>
There was no way he could support the fight upfront right now. They didn't seem to
be in danger either.
Su-hyeun went to the monsters' rear. The eleven monsters quickly fell apart, unable
to withstand the simultaneous attacks.
Rip—!
The thick spider's abdomen was slashed in half, and green blood spilled out.
As if a habit, Su-hyeun shook off the blood on his sword after he got rid of the last of
the monsters. They had defended three rounds of attacks up until now.
After the first round of attack, they were given 10 minutes of rest. Following that, the
monsters' attacks continued. With this pattern, the members were able to defend
themselves from the monsters.
<<Everyone is exhausted… >>
The exhausted Lee Ju-ho looked at the relaxed Su-hyeun who was wiping his sword,
unlike the rest of the group.
<<Why does he look so normal?>>

The opponents were never easy. The number of monsters entering through the door
was increasing. Furthermore, the monsters' levels weren't decreasing, taking a toll
on everyone physically and mentally.
In fact, the others were sitting in a corner without any words. Their mana had also
reached their lowest points.
<<On top of that… >>
Throughout the battle, Lee Ju-ho looked at Su-hyeun as if he were bewitched.
<<It's my first time seeing an awakener fight like that.>>
Though he had that feeling before the trial started, Lee Ju-ho always felt amazed at
Su-hyeun's fighting. It wasn't because of his high magic level, outstanding stats, or a
wide variety of skills. Such things were irrelevant.
It was purely his fighting ability.
Su-hyeun knew how to utilize his physical abilities and made use of them to fight to
his advantage. In fact, it was as if he were showing others how to use the 100 percent
potential in their own physical and magical abilities.
"Isn't it embarrassing?" Kim Ba-reun spoke, walking up to Lee Ju-ho and plopped
down next to him.
Kim Ba-reun was looking at Su-hyeun as well.
"Really… wondering if that guy is really a C-rank awakener like me."
"That could be the truth since there wasn't much of a difference between both of
your magical skills."
"Really? Then what do you think sets us apart?"
"Do I really have to say it out loud?"
It was a question not worth even thinking about.
"Just… It's just a gift."

Not everyone was able to have such fighting skills. Even Lee Ju-ho, who had joined
countless dungeon attacks, could not yet imitate such fights.
"A gift…”
"Why? Are you jealous?"
"What about you? Don't you feel so?"
"Well, a little." Lee Ju-ho muttered after letting out a deep sigh. "Instead of jealous…
I'm more envious." Jealousy was a feeling that one would experience when the shoe
fit. Now, Lee Ju-ho just felt envious of Su-hyeun, who had such gifts.
"Hey."
"What is it?"
"After this dungeon attack ends… I'm considering climbing the tower."
Kim Ba-reun was shocked at Lee Ju-ho's words. "Are you for real?"
"Why are you so surprised?"
"Wait, isn't it obvious? You were just thinking that it's a joke to be climbing the
towers a few days back."
"Right. I did say that." Lee Ju-ho looked at Su-hyeun with a bright face.
"Honestly… I was conceited."
<<"You really don't wish to climb up any further?"
A long time ago, when Kim Ba-reun had asked him the same question, Lee Ju-ho
replied with a sneer.
"It's enough at this point. What's there to risk your life for by going further?"
"Hey, but if we continue going up…”
"Forget it, it's enough. This is just nice.">>

He really was conceited.
He understood now. The real thing existed separately, and it wasn't too far. And now,
he wasn't close to being strong enough.
"I must thank that friend when we get out of here. If it weren't for him, we would
have all been dead… I wouldn't be able to stay sane, too."
He was grateful to Su-hyeun. He felt his mind clearing up a bit. He couldn't see the
need to climb up the tower any further before, but now he was given a new
motivation and determination to do so.
"Hmm…”
Kim Ba-reun placed his chin on top of his knees and asked, "Could it be real?"
Lee Ju-ho turned around, ignoring Kim Ba-reun's question and asked, "Really?"
"I meant Kim Su-hyeun."
“…Ah, are you talking about that again?" Lee Ju-ho turned once more and looked at
Su-hyeun. Su-hyeun was sitting against the wall and resting up.
"I had thought that he wasn't the one at first."
He was certain.
A mere C-rank awakener. The gap was too wide for the Su-hyeun who stood before
them to be the heavily rumored Kim Su-hyeun. But after witnessing his abilities, his
thoughts had changed.
Maybe… They could be the same person.
<<But why?>>
A sudden question flashed across his mind.
How could he only be a mere C-rank awakener while having such abilities?
If one had climbed the Tower of Trials for a year with those abilities and had
accumulated an extraordinary amount of achievement points, his level must have
been way above that.
<<Could it really be someone else?>>
But it was hard to imagine that two awakeners of the same name would have the
same characteristics. It was unlikely that such coincidence existed.
<<Damn, exactly what's what?>>
Lee Ju-ho shook his head clear.
Such complicated thoughts would only affect his rest time. Survival was of utmost
importance now.
"Ha, ha—."
"Huff. Huff—."
Lee Eun-mi and Ahn Min-seok took deep breaths while looking down at the blood on
the floor.
It was crazily exhausting.
"Now… how many rounds are we left with?"
"Ah, it should be the last round now."
Both of them were unable to reply immediately, as they seemed to be quite

exhausted. The other members were almost the same.
Su-hyeun was alarmed that most of them were too exhausted to speak.
<<The last round.>>
They had successfully defended nine rounds of attacks.
Monsters' corpses were piling up on the ground, and the members were both
physically and mentally exhausted. More than anything else, the number of monsters
pouring out from that door was increasing.
<<Everyone is quite exhausted now.>>
Lee Ju-ho was probably the only one with quite a bit of stamina left. As a powerful
awakener, he had better physical abilities and skills compared to the rest of the
party.
<<The plan was well laid out.>>
As if exhausted, Su-hyeun too sat against the wall and looked around at the other
members.
<<If she wants to make a move… >>
When the rest had collapsed and were exhausted, Su-hyeun found the only one who
was moving.
<<Indeed, it would be now.>>
Stomp, stomp—
There wasn't much time left until the last attack.
Beyond the door, noise could be heard as the monsters kept banging against the
door.
Slide—
She slowly approached the door. As she came closer, the monsters' cries and anger
could be heard much more clearly.
<<Once this door opens… >>
The monsters would rush out from there.
A nervous moment.
She reached her hands out. She grabbed the doorknob and picked up the key was
that hanging there.
Until now, no one else had spotted her actions.
<<That's right.>>
Though it was a little disturbing, it wasn't tough.
It was a skill that was not obtainable through stores, but through the trials:
Invisibility.
It was a skill that had yet to be revealed until now.
Although B-rank awakener Lee Ju-ho had a good chance of getting caught with
invisibility, she had waited until everyone was exhausted.
Even Lee Ju-ho, too, was too exhausted to recognize her existence.
<<Let's open the door and escape quickly.>>
Creak—
She placed the key into the lock. At that moment, a voice could be heard from behind.
"There, over there!"
It was too late.
Click—
The key turned, and the door that had been obstructing the monsters' way started to
open slowly.
[A minute later, the monsters will rush out.]
[The door behind has opened. Escape to survive.]
Great, it's done.

"Well done."
"…?"
She turned around at the voice that spoke. A familiar face came up close to him.
It was Su-hyeun.
"H, how…”
No, there wasn't time for that.
Soon, she left her position and escaped quickly.
Flick—
"What do you mean, how."
Clack—!
Su-hyeun grabbed Kim Ye-eun's neck quickly. Before she knew it, she had passed by
him.
"Cough!"
Kim Ye-eun's eyes widened.
She could not understand what was happening around her.
'Just… how… '
A rare skill, invisibility, which she had obtained by luck through passing a trial.
She was now in the state of invisibility, transparent to the naked eyes of others.
It was the effect of the invisibility skill that killed her existence and made her
transparent within a specific range.
Unless it was under normal circumstances, now the members were all exhausted,
and she had thought she could completely kill her existence. The right time was now.
'How did he find me?'
No, before that…
'Just when, was he behind me?'
"Cough, cough!"
An incomprehensible situation.
Just as she had opened the door with the key, Su-hyeun approached her from behind.
No, he didn't approach her.
'No way… He waited until I opened the door… '
But why?
"I wondered when you would make your move."
Slam—!
Su-hyeun grabbed her neck and plummeted her on the ground.
Kim Ye-eun felt pain rushing throughout her bones as she was forced into the
ground.
Her questions still remain unsolved.
'Did… he knew everything?'
It was as if he was waiting for her to make her move.
He knew of her existence. Even so, he had been waiting for her.
'But why?'
He could have stopped her from opening the door.
'Moreover, he told me earlier that I had done well… '

Confusion, fear, and questions were tangled up in her mind. She could not escape
from Su-hyeun's firm grip.
"Was this a test from the Dump Guild?"
Kim Ye-eun's eyes widened in shock once more at Su-hyeun's whispers.
Su-hyeun's mouth twisted at her reaction. It was a look of displeasure and contempt.
Dump, a guild that was created and meant for the criminals who were abandoned.
It was a group that Su-hyeun had despised and detested the most.
"I was just guessing… But it seems that I'm right."
"W… wait…”
"What do you mean wait?"
Grind, grind—
As Su-hyeun added strength in his grip, Kim Ye-eun's neck began to break.
"In fact, I had intended to kill you even if it wasn't the truth."
Act 2
Drip, drip—
Su-hyeun looked at the corpse of Kim Ye-eun, whose neck had been broken.
Su-hyeun first had his suspicions when she first started talking to him at the
dungeon's entrance. Whatever her intention, it was thanks to her that she caught Su-
hyeun's attention.
"Honestly, those people felt uncomfortable."
He had the same opinion.
Su-hyeun had already known what would happen in the future and had his
suspicions, but she was different. Just based purely on her intuition, she felt strange
suspicions towards them.
But…
<<Just from which point?>>
There was nothing suspicious about Lee Ju-ho and the others from Su-hyeun's point
of view. At least, Su-hyeun could not understand the reason why they had felt
uncomfortable.
Subsequently, Kim Ye-eun had been trying to strike a conversation with Su-hyeun
from the start.
They were suspicious of each other and viewed each other negatively, but he
wouldn't have been sure with just that reason alone.
<<An idiot who can't even manage her facial expressions… >>
Su-hyeun had been observing the members' faces while he was fighting the monsters
for the first time.
There were only two whose faces had turned foul: Kim Ye-eun and Lee Eun-mi.
Unlike the others who were relieved that there was someone whose skills were
outstanding, both their facial expressions were not good. Amongst them, Su-hyeun
was more suspicious of Kim Ye-eun.
Although Lee Eun-mi's face was openly flushed and angry at Su-hyeun, Kim Ye-eun
had tried to hide her expression.
<<She's such an amateur.>>
But of course, she shouldn't be labeled as a real awakener of the Dump Guild.
Technically speaking, she was one of the few hopefuls who wished to be part of the
criminal syndicate, Dump Guild. Whatever was bound to happen here could be
related to one of the few special requirements or rites of the Dump Guild.
<<Until now… The existence of Dump Guild has yet to be made known.>>
It was several years before Dump Guild was made known to the public. Up until now,
only a few people knew of its existence.
"This… what should we do?"
"What do you mean? We'll have to make our escape!" Su-hyeun looked at the
flustered party.
Thankfully, the back door was open. The once boastful Ahn Min-seok was now the
most cowardly and was already running towards the wide-open door.
Lee Ju-ho shouted towards Su-hyeun.
"Come over here quickly! We must run!"
How could he still be called the party's leader?
Judging from his actions, Kim Ye-eun's information about Lee Ju-ho seemed to be
false. Truthfully, it didn't really matter.
"Please return first."
"What?"
"If we escape just like that, we'll all die."
[You have 30 seconds left.]
There was no time.
Lee Ju-ho shouted one last time in urgency.
"What are you actually planning to do now?"
"Leave me alone and run. I will follow behind soon after."
"What nonsense are you spouting…”
Time seemed to be flowing past at a high speed. The others had already started
running.
His friend Kim Ba-reun was shouting at the top of his lungs, asking him to come over.
She was frustrated since he was still hesitating when even a second was too
precious. Kim Ye-eun's betrayal was something that could be dealt with later.
"Don't worry and run. I have confidence that I can escape successfully."
Was there something else that was left? Lee Ju-ho, who had never seen Su-hyeun use
his other skills, soon made up his mind.
"If so… I do hope to see you alive and well." Lee Ju-ho turned and started running
towards the back door.
He used Swift to make his run, and soon his figure ran into the distance.
10 seconds.
What an urgent situation.
But now that everyone had left, Su-hyeun felt a sense of relief.
"I'm finally alone."
He stretched his neck and then his legs.
He felt stiffer after a long period of restricted movement. He had to walk on thin ice
with others around, and it was more inconvenient and uncomfortable than he
thought.
<<There's no one else looking… >>
Su-hyeun grinned at the thought of his distance with Lee Ju-ho.
<<There are no problems at this distance.>>
As they quickly escaped, the distance between them lengthened. Furthermore, Lee
Ju-ho had no time to take care of Su-hyeun in this situation.
"Now…”
Creak, creak—
The locked door started to open slowly.
Soon, the last message appeared.
[Please survive.]
Slam—!
The door opened.
Kyaaa—!
Hundreds of monsters rushed out in unison. The massive horde approached Su-
hyeun.
Light fire wrapped around Su-hyeun's body.
Su-hyeun, who used Flame on his body and sword, grinned.
"Now, I'm feeling more refreshed."
Kyaaaa—!
Su-hyeun's new form slid through the monsters with the flame.
At that moment.
Slash—!
Splat—!
Blood gushed out from the monsters. Charred flesh was scattered, and red hot
flames rose. The monsters faltered back.
Su-hyeun's new form rose and blocked the way of some of the monsters that
retreated.
"Where are you heading?"
Grrrr—
Was it the system's instinct?
The monsters that were still in front of Su-hyeun were still trying to chase the other
members who were running towards the back door — the monsters did not
immediately head for Su-hyeun, as if they were slightly intimidated by him.
Stomp—
Su-hyeun closed the back door with his hand. As the large door closed loudly, Su-
hyeun turned around.
"If you want to go past me…”
[You have used the skill Leap.]

[Excluding the target, all other surrounding enemies have perceived you as their
enemy.]
At that moment, the monsters' eyes that were looking at Su-hyeun had turned red.
"Kill me first, you little cowards."
The legs that were running like crazy suddenly stopped.
Soon, Lee Ju-ho had caught up with Kim Ba-reun. He was already lagging behind the
party and suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"I just don't think that this is nice of us."
"What?"
At that moment, Kim Ba-reun could not understand Lee Ju-ho's words, but it did not
actually take him too long to understand.
"Go ahead first."
Lee Ju-ho then turned around. Fully aware of what Lee Ju-ho was thinking, Kim Ba-
reun blocked him in his way.
"Hey, are you crazy? How are you going to help him?"
"Well, you can't be so sure. Su-hyeun might survive if I go to his aid."
Why had this thought come in so late?
At the time, the sudden thought of facing death had instilled fear in him. Thus he
made the decision to escape there and then. He did not know that he would regret
his decision now. He could have run even faster, but the reason why he could not was
also because of his conscience.
"He might have survived it, too. No, definitely…” Lee Ju-ho might have made up his
mind as he walked past Kim Ba-reun, who was standing in front of him.
"Hey, if we just make our escape and live well and proper…”
Lee Ju-ho tapped on Kim Ba-reun's shoulder and spoke.
"How am I going to live with this shame in the future?"
Lee Ju-ho turned around and ran in the opposite direction, running faster than
before.
The whole way back, he kept thinking about whether it was right to have made his
escape or if he should have returned.
He was unable to make a swift decision as he was faced with death. His legs ran
slower.
At that moment, if he could not make a decision, it felt as if he would regret it his
whole life.
There were times when he could only make decisions based on his emotions rather
than being objective, and that was the exact moment for Lee Ju-ho now. It made him
feel better after he made up his decision to return.
Eventually, Lee Ju-ho ran without rest in the direction towards where the monsters
pouring out.
That strange feeling had been around for quite some time.
No matter how far they ran, they never met the monsters that were chasing them.
Regardless if Su-hyeun could have stopped the monsters, he would not have been
able to stop all of them.
They definitely thought that way.
<<Did he really stop all of the monsters by himself?>>
Could it be that the horde of monsters that poured out was weaker than expected?
<<No, that couldn't be it.>>

As the door opened slightly, he could see through the slight opening that the horde of
monsters was into the hundreds.
He was blocking that massive number of monsters by himself? Regardless of how

outstanding Su-hyeun was, it was too tough to handle alone.
<<But if he could really deal with them… >>
He gripped hard onto his sword.
He had made the right decision to return.
He started running even faster. He squeezed more magic and used it on the skill
Swift.
Not long after, the door which he had run away from became visible.
But…
<<What?>>
Trudge, trudge—
His feet became slower. As he went closer towards the door, he felt high levels of
magic. The level was of a much higher magic rating than what he had now.
Moreover…
<<This heat… >>
Even though he was quite a distance from the door, he could still clearly feel the heat,
and it was hard to say that it was from a monster. On top of that, the door was closed.
"It couldn't be?"
Lee Ju-ho hastily ran towards the door and stopped in front of it. He could feel the
heat right there.
It was tough to even grab the door's handle without injecting magic in his hands. Lee
Ju-ho hurriedly pushed the door inwards.
Creak—
The heavy door opened, and the interior was revealed.
Lee Ju-ho's eyes narrowed at the sight which unfolded before him.
"This… what's this…”
The monsters' corpses were quickly piling up and hot flames were hovering above
them. The dungeon was filled with its heat.
The blood running along the floor dried up, and the monsters' corpses had turned
black from the burning flame.
It seemed like there were hundreds of monsters. It was as much as Lee Ju-ho had
expected — no, even more than he had expected.
<<Just who… >>
The answer to the question was pre-determined since there was only one person left
in this room.
Lee Ju-ho turned around and spotted Su-hyeun, who was left all alone.
"Didn't I tell you to run away?" Su-hyeun's voice came from behind.
<<When?>>
Maybe he was nervous?
Lee Ju-ho turned around in surprise and distanced himself. Su-hyeun looked at Lee
Ju-ho with blood all over his body.
"Why did you return?"
As soon as they made eye contact, Lee Ju-ho felt that the temperature in the room
had risen multiple folds from before.
It was the level of magic concentration and magic factor.

This wasn't the Su-hyeun he knew. His gaze, his atmosphere, his everything was
different.
Gulp—
By some chance, he was it.
"You…” Lee Ju-ho was confident as he looked at the Su-hyeun, who stood in front of
him.
“…are Kim Su-hyeun?"

Instead of answering Lee Ju-ho's question, Su-hyeun looked at his face for a while.
The heated surrounding and tense atmosphere around Lee Ju-ho was suffocating
enough, and it was Lee Ju-ho who was unilaterally frustrated.
He knew that the atmosphere was somewhat different, but he did not know that Lee
Ju-ho would be fearful of it.
It wasn't just the level of magic concentration; the skills Su-hyeun had were also of a
different class from his.
<<It would not be surprising if he said he wanted to kill me.>>
Su-hyeun spoke as he looked at Lee Ju-ho's face, which was struck with fear.
"Yes, that's right."
There was no need for Su-hyeun to come up with more excuses or to beat about the
bush.
As Lee Ju-ho had seen his original self, there would not be any use to try to deny it.
On top of that, it wasn't his name that Su-hyeun had wanted to hide.
Lee Ju-ho's eyes widened at Su-hyeun's answer. It seemed that he was still quite
surprised even after hearing the truth from him.
Su-hyeun pressed hard between his brows.
<<This turned out to be quite troublesome.>>
He had not expected Lee Ju-ho to return to the dungeon. Su-hyeun let out a deep sigh
and spoke while dangling his sword in his hand.
"I'll ask you again. Why did you return?"

"Well, that…” Lee Ju-ho spoke after a moment of contemplation. There was only one
thing that he could answer. "Because I was ashamed."
"Ashamed?"
"Yes."
"About what?"
"That I abandoned you and ran away myself."
"Was it solely because of that?"
"It wasn't all because of that…”
How should he explain himself? Conscience? Or embarrassment? It seemed better to

say that his feet didn't allow him to go too far.
<<Does he mean that he returned completely unaware of anything?>> Su-hyeun

originally thought that Lee Ju-ho probably sensed that he had hidden his actual skills
and came back to check.
Su-hyeun nodded his head while looking at Lee Ju-ho, who was scratching his head
dully.
"Well, forget it."
"What?"
"What else can I do now? I'm sorry to have lied to you."
"Ah, it's alright. Either way, the rest of us were able to survive thanks to you…”
There were definitely a lot of strange things in the dungeon. It had a weird format
different from the normal dungeons, and the difficulty level on the outside was vastly
different from the level on the inside.
If it weren't for Su-hyeun, it would have been impossible for them to clear the trial,
and no one would have survived the trap that Kim Ye-eun had set up. In other words,
they were able to survive because of Su-hyeun.
"Mister Su-hyeun is our benefactor."
Su-hyeun felt slightly relieved after hearing Lee Ju-ho's words.
It didn't seem like Lee Ju-ho would rashly spread the news about him either. He
didn't seem to be that kind of person.
<<Although it was something that I had not expected, I don't lose out much either.>>
Lee Ju-ho was a veteran who had been working as an awakener for an extended
period. It would be even easier to get more accurate and various news from Lee Ju-
ho directly instead of searching through Abyss Online.
As said before, although it was true he had owed him a favor, their relationship in the
future wouldn't be bad.
"Don't feel burdened by it. I'm not trying to erase the debt; I'm only doing what I
should have done before," Su-hyeun said and flopped onto the floor.
He would, of course, be exhausted after clearing out hundreds of monsters single-

handedly. On top of that, Su-hyeun's Flame skill was one that would use up high
amounts of magic concentration at high speeds.
As the supply of magic got cut off from his body, the flames around started to die
down.
Lee Ju-ho watched, fascinated, as the fire around him died down and flopped next to
Su-hyeun.
"It's quite an interesting skill."
"It's the type that devours magic."
"What level of magic is required for this skill?"
"Although it's a level 4 magic skill…” Su-hyeun's words trailed off. It's too obvious and
thus unnecessary for him to continue the sentence.
"What in the world…”

Lee Ju-ho, too, was a B-rank awakener, with level 4 magic. Lee Ju-ho's primary skill,
Swift, was also one of the level 4 magic skills. It was a reasonably useful skill that
boosted the overall speed on skills, magic usage, and physical stamina.
But compared to Su-hyeun's Flame, Swift was nowhere near as helpful.
"Awesome. Although you must have heard it countless times… It's for real."
Kim Su-hyeun. He had heard of this name countless times.
A unique awakener who had cleared the level 10 trials of each floor while climbing
the Tower of Trials.
A divinity that had been breaking records on each floor.
There were many divided opinions on how strong he had become after a year of
awakening.
It was also because he had never shown his face before. There was nothing else
made known to the public besides his name.
<<I didn't know he would be this strong.??
It had just been a year since his awakening.
Regardless of how fast he had grown, Lee Ju-ho thought that Su-hyeun would be just
at his level.
But goodness. Su-hyeun was already a few levels well above him.
"As expected, it's a secret, right?"
"What?"
"About you being the actual famous, mysterious Kim Su-hyeun. You don't have any
plans on revealing this, right?"
He was quick-witted. He knew that he didn't have to go around telling others about
Su-hyeun. And even knew that Su-hyeun had hoped for the same.
"Yes, that's right."
"I'll keep the secret then. I must never have you coming after me if I were to rashly
spread the news about you." Lee Ju-ho spoke jokingly about it, but he was also being
sincere.
He wasn't confident about shouldering the consequences in the event that he did go
around spreading the news about Su-hyeun.
Su-hyeun did not respond to Lee Ju-ho's words. Although he didn't have any thoughts
on killing him, he would feel better to have thought of it that way.
"Let's talk later and take a rest for now."
"Was it very exhausting?"
"Although it's exhausting…” Su-hyeun looked in the direction of the door where the
horde of monsters had come from.
"All of this hasn't ended yet, has it?"
Su-hyeun used Flame and focused on refilling his mana that was nearly emptied.
Although he could simply rest up and recover his stamina, concentration was needed
to restore his mana. Su-hyeun and Lee Ju-ho, who had both been silent for the past
hour, started moving again. After entering the wide-opened door, an elongated cave
appeared. It seemed to a dungeon made up of huge caves.
"As expected, the others don't seem to be returning."
Lee Ju-ho glanced back a few times behind him.
Lee Ju-ho put up a disappointed look, as he had thought that maybe his friend Kim
Ba-reun would have returned.
Well, he couldn't be blamed since Kim Ba-reun didn't understand his actions.
Though he understood them objectively, he was slightly hurt emotionally.

"Isn't it weirder if you don't know how to value your own life?"
"Well, that's true…”
He had never thought that he would hear this. He had even hesitated to climb the
Tower of Trials before as he had valued his own life then. Lee Ju-ho felt and put on an
embarrassed look.
Su-hyeun peeked slightly at Lee Ju-ho. <<Certainly… He's too good of a person to die
in a place like this.>>
Su-hyeun had been talking to Lee Ju-ho for a while now.
Amongst the topics was one about Lee Ju-ho, who hadn't been climbing the Tower of
Trials for quite some time. Many didn't climb the Tower of Trials as they valued their
own lives more. No, more accurately, it was most of the awakeners.
How many awakeners had failed to pass the trials while aiming for levels higher than
their actual capability?
In fact, up until now, the awakeners' causes of death were mostly from the Tower of
Trials. It was a given to value their own lives more, but Lee Ju-ho even valued others'
lives as much as his own.
It wasn't common to find such a person like him in this stark and shriveled world.
Thoughts like, "As long as it isn't me," or "It's just me by myself" were more prevalent
in this world, but having a person like Lee Ju-ho was not bad at all.
"Tsk. Anyway, why did Kim Ye-eun betray us? I didn't expect that she would pull a
suicide stint on us."
"She didn't pull a suicide stint."
"Then what?"
"She pulled a team kill on us."
Lee Ju-ho was horrified by Su-hyeun's blunt response.
Up until now, Lee Ju-ho had thought that Kim Ye-eun's action was that they should all
have perished together. But to think that she had the intent of killing them?
"Do you know about Dump Guild?"
"Dump Guild?"
He seemed to be unaware.
Su-hyeun continued on.
"It is a guild made up with homicidal maniacs. Not just homicidal maniacs, but there
are also others with conflicting interests gathered there."
"There is such a guild?"
"You would not be aware since they are not widely known." Su-hyeun, who was
speaking as he walked, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"In fact, we can say that those who have known about them have all died."
"Wait, what?" Lee Ju-ho's face went white as paper.
That was even more horrifying than what he said before. That those who knew about
the existence of the Dump Guild had died.
In other words, he wouldn't know what would happen to him.
"S-so why are you telling me this?" Lee Ju-ho asked Su-hyeun, who continued
walking again. He would have preferred to not have known about this at all.
Su-hyeun replied to Lee Ju-ho, who gave a massive reaction with a huge grin. "Aren't
you an adventurer who isn't afraid of death?"
"No, but even so, why is there a need to kill when we've survived?"
"Did I say that I killed them? Perhaps Dump Guild would send someone to do it."
"Didn't I say that earlier!" Lee Ju-ho tore his hair out, screaming. He seemed to be
quite frightened at Dump Guild's name.
<<Just what would Dump Guild think of this dungeon attack… >>
Technically, Kim Ye-eun wasn't a member of the Dump Guild.
To join Dump Guild, there was a special mission that potential candidates had to
clear. It was a concept similar to the trials.
And Kim Ye-eun was right in the middle of clearing it. In other words, she wasn't an
official member of Dump Guild yet.
Perhaps, Dump Guild might have considered this as a failed mission. They could also
be afraid that their guild's existence would be exposed to the public.
<<It would be better if it was the latter.>>
He felt apologetic to Lee Ju-ho.
Because of this, Lee Ju-ho would be more interested in the Dump Guild as well.
But…
<>
Dump Guild. It was the worst criminal syndicate guild, and in the future, a group of
murderers who were even more dangerous than monsters.
Punishing them was one of Su-hyeun's goals. It wasn't easy digging the Dump Guild
out as they were intentionally hiding from the public.
In that case, he needed something that would make them surface.
Su-hyeun wanted this to be the starting point.
"Stop it and come quickly," Su-hyeun said, looking back at Lee Ju-ho, who still had his
head hung down.
"Shouldn't we see the end of this?"

"Huff, huff."
"Huff. W-we survived…”
The members who managed to flee from the dungeon collapsed to the floor as they
came out.
A sense of relief took over when they realized that they had survived and their
stamina had mainly been exhausted.
The only person with remaining strength was Ahn Min-seok, who had relatively high
health stats. He held on without collapsing onto the floor and looked back anxiously
at the dungeon's entrance.
"The dungeon's color…!"
Ahn Min-seok's eyes widened. At his reaction, Lee Eun-mi looked back too and
screamed in surprise.
"Y-yellow?"
"What happened to it?"
Ahn Min-seok's eyes widened even more.
It was definitely still an orange level dungeon when they entered. Unless the party
was all caught in a hallucinogenic skill, there was no doubt about it.
But the dungeon's color changed in that short time? No, more importantly, were the
dungeon colors able to change in the first place?
It was confusing. But at the same time, it made perfect sense.
<<No wonder I felt that it was too tough.>>

It was impossible to target a yellow level dungeon with this number of people and
standards. To raid a yellow dungeon, they would at least need 10 awakeners of Lee
Ju-ho's level.
"Ahhhh—!"
Plop—
Kim Ba-reun, who was running out from the dungeon, hurriedly tripped over a stone
and fell headfirst. Although it was not tough for an awakener to trip over a stone, it
had also meant that he was that exhausted and had no stamina left.
"Are you alright?"
"Where is Ju-ho?" Ahn Min-seok and Lee Eun-mi approached and asked Kim Ba-reun,
who had ran out hurriedly.
Kim Ba-reun held onto Ahn Min-seok's arm for support and replied with trembling
lips.
"H-he's dead."
"What?"
"What do you mean he's dead?!" Lee Eun-mi asked in surprise. Ahn Min-seok
screamed.
They had definitely seen Lee Ju-ho running behind them. How could he be dead?
Kim Ba-reun seemed to know something. Kim Ba-reun bit his lip as if it was
something difficult to answer.
"That… that crazy bastard…” This was Kim Ba-reun's reaction.
Crying and cursing. One would know just by looking at Kim Ba-reun exactly how he
felt.
"That's not possible…”
"Damn it!"
Lee Ju-ho died.
And on top of that, Kim Su-hyeun died, too.
At the very least, that was how they had perceived in their minds.
Act 3
"Ahhhh!"
Lee Ju-ho screamed fiercely.
He plopped onto the floor and gazed at the ceiling. The monsters corpses' were
strewn all around him.
"I can't go any further. Please go on ahead."
"Really?" Su-hyeun asked while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Though he had been fighting, Su-hyeun looked more at ease than Lee Ju-ho. He still
had plenty of mana. For this battle, he did not use any skills and instead prevailed
with only his fighting ability.
“…Are you really going?" Lee Ju-ho, who has still laid on the floor, turned around the
glanced at him. It seemed that he would get up soon enough. He was just being
whiny.
"Yes, I'm going."
In fact, Su-hyeun wanted to rest, too. He needed to rest up entirely as it would be a

lot better if he could move again in perfect condition.
But…
[Time limit 00:30:28.]
There was another mission for them. It was a time-tagged mission where they had to
complete the dungeon attack. The conditions were simple.
[Destroy the summoning stone.]

A mission that specified its own target.
And there was a time limit given for the mission. Both Lee Ju-ho and Su-hyeun had
no way of finding out what would happen when the time was up for this mission, but
it was certain that there would be significant risks as there was a penalty given from
the system.
"Ah, honestly…” Lee Ju-ho stood up from his position in the end.
"Is this really the end?"
"How would I know?"
"Ack!" Lee Ju-ho tore at his hair again. Was this a habit of his? Amused, Su-hyeun
smiled. It seemed that Lee Ju-ho was a more pleasant person than expected.
After Lee Ju-ho realized that Su-hyeun was stronger than him and that he wasn't
actually the party's leader, his attitude had changed.
<<Although he was making quite a big fuss… >>
But there was no doubt about his skills.
At least he would not be much of an obstacle. It wasn't easy getting to B-rank either.
"There isn't much time left."
"What?" Lee Ju-ho, who struggled to get up from his seat, asked.
Su-hyeun tilted his head, referring to the end of the cave in the distance.
"I can see it there."
"Umm…” Lee Ju-ho narrowed his eyes and looked closely into the distance where Su-
hyeun was referring to.
At the end of the cave, a gigantic blue stone could be seen.
"That's… the summoning stone?"

"Most likely."
"So, all this will end when we break it into pieces?" Lee Ju-ho's face suddenly
brightened.
It seemed that things had been quite tough on him all this time. On the contrary, Su-
hyeun's face darkened.
<<Because of that… >>
A growing dungeon.
The color of dungeons was usually determined by the special mana from the
monsters that inhabited it, but there were also times when a dungeon changed color
as well. It was the same as this instance.
The summoning stone.
A medium that summoned monsters from a different dimension. As long as it

existed, monsters will be summoned endlessly. As the number of monsters
increased, the dungeon's color would turn closer to purple, and an outbreak would
be inevitable.
There would be a huge number of monsters. With this number of monsters, it would
cause the death of over ten thousand people in the Gyeonggi Province as its
epicenter.
<<That was the very first calamity that I could recall.>>
Su-hyeun started walking towards the summoning stone.
There were still some monsters left around the summoning stone. The types of
monsters were of a wide variety, and it seemed that the monsters were summoned
without any discrimination.
<<From where and how are these monsters being summoned?>>
The monsters were wary of Su-hyeun.
Lee Ju-ho stuck right behind Su-hyeun and muttered. "This… the numbers look quite
a lot, though?"
He didn't notice from afar, but only when he went closer did he realize.
There were too many monsters around them, watching them closely. It looked like
they were in hundreds.
Gulp—
The nervous Lee Ju-ho grasped his sword even tighter.
Fortunately, the monsters did not jump right at them. They were drooling, watching,
and whetting their appetites. No, it wasn't anything good at all.
"How long are you going to watch us?" Su-hyeun opened his mouth to speak.
As he looked behind the summoning stone, he saw a shadow slowly appear. Hidden
behind that gigantic stone was a shadow that donned a long robe.
"You could have come a bit closer. Hahaha." The sudden burst of laughter made the
others feel uncomfortable.
That shrill voice and laughter were so horrific that it was hardly recognizable that it
was a human. Lee Ju-ho had to retreat immediately at that sound.
No, it wasn't only his voice that was creepy. His magic's concentration and properties
could also be felt emanating from him. Everything about him was creepy.
"A… human?"
It was a human in the dungeon.
This was Lee Ju-ho's first time experiencing this. His hands shook in astonishment.
"He's not a human."
Flick—
Su-hyeun flicked his finger and a flame appeared over the hooded man's head.
The flame took off the hooded man's hood, and he accepted it without trying to avoid
it.
As soon as the hood fell off, the hooded man's face was revealed.
"A-a-a skeleton?"
"Excuse me? Who are you calling skeleton?" The hooded man spoke with frustration.
"I'd hope you would call me Richie instead."
It seemed that he had wanted to reveal his identity to them all along. It could be the
same reason why he had not stopped them from taking off his hood.
However, Su-hyeun sneered at the skeleton's words. "What do you mean Richie, you
fraud?"
Would his face have looked crumpled if he wasn't?
The skeleton turned towards Su-hyeun. It's empty eye socket looked towards Su-
hyeun and starting using its frightening magic.
"What does a little boy like you know…”
"Of course I do. More than you do."
He might have presented himself as Richie, but Su-hyeun knew very well that he
wasn't.
The real Richie didn't look like this. The real Richie had the ability to construct
himself to appear more like a human being. Moreover, the magic concentration,
factor, and properties he had felt were quite different from the real Richie. In other
words, he was a fake Richie.
"I don't know how you'll think of this," Su-hyeun said as if he was hurt.
"You're a fraud."
"Hick." Lee Ju-ho stifled a burst of laughter from behind as if he had found it funny.
The skeleton was speechless. Probably because his feelings had intensified, the
monsters' cries around him had intensified as well.
Kyaaa—!
As the hundred monsters cried out in unison, the sound was deafening. Lee Ju-ho
quickly stopped his laughter and got ready to attack.
"Ah, seriously? I shouldn't have laughed." Lee Ju-ho's face quickly turned tearful.
Regardless, Su-hyeun had his eyes fixed on the skeleton in front of them.
<<He must be the summoner then.>>
He was the one who was using the summoning stone to summon monsters.
The evil summoner who later summoned and manipulated monsters, and later
caused the death of ten thousands of people was just in front of them.
"Just endure for three minutes."
"What?"
"For three minutes only. Three minutes."
"Please, Su-hyeun…”
Even though Lee Ju-ho was tearing, Su-hyeun was walking towards the summoner.
Slowly, step by step.
As he took each step and narrowed their distance, the summoner's magic intensified.
"Your body and soul will suffer forever."
Step—
"Well, that's only if you win."
Squelch—
The ground was left with Su-hyeun's footprints as he took each step.
"You look exhausted; aren't you pushing it too much?"
The summoner knew.
"All these kids in the dungeon are my hands and feet. The one who was fighting them
up until a while ago isn't getting exhausted?"
Su-hyeun's physical condition was not perfect. He was drained from fighting all the
monsters endlessly. Although it was evident that Su-hyeun was strong, there were
still more than a hundred monsters left with the summoner.
It was evident who would be the winner.
"Although my stamina is nearly depleted…”
Burning—
Su-hyeun's surroundings suddenly gushed out with blazing heat.
As the flame heated up, the summoner quickly rose up to his feet. The heat from the
flames was fatal to the summoner who had dark magic properties.
He had thought that Su-hyeun's stamina was nearly depleted.
At the flustered summoner's reaction, Su-hyeun raised his head and looked at him.
"But my magic is still quite plentiful."
On his way here, he had purposefully saved up his magic.
All just for this moment.
And…
[Transfiguration skill: Berserk is used.]
[Your health is low.]
[Your ability has increased in proportion to your lack of strength.]

[Your health has been temporarily restored.]
[Strength has increased significantly.]
[Ability has increased significantly.]
Su-hyeun's body turned fully red.
His breathing got better, and his body was filled with energy.
Su-hyeun had been pushing himself to the limit, all just for this moment.
Su-hyeun was in his best condition ever.

As the summoner realized Su-hyeun's breathing had turned normal, he quickly
responded. He raised his hand and shouted.
"Kill them!"
The summoner's loud voice echoed throughout the cave.
At the summoner's command, the hundreds of monsters showed their teeth in

unison, flexed their claws, and charged towards both Su-hyeun and Lee Ju-ho. The
monsters were of a similar standard as the Lizardcops, perhaps even stronger.
But…
Burning—!
At the same time, the flame on Su-hyeun's sword was set ablaze. He hit the wall with
extremely high heat, and it covered Su-hyeun's body. To find Su-hyeun in the flames,
the summoner had to use his cane and search for him.
"Where did he go…”
Swish—!
Kyaaa—!
A group of monsters moved in one direction in unison.
It was the summoner, the mastermind, who was controlling the monsters' minds.
However, the summoner's controls and intentions were nearly useless.
Fwoom—!
The monsters that were charging in one direction exploded and turned into burnt
pieces. At the same time, Su-hyeun's new form escaped and ran towards the
summoner.
At that moment, dark black magic burst out from the summoner's cane.
Slam—!
A sword and cane.
The crash of red hot flames and dark magic led to a massive explosion.
The summoner recoiled from the explosion and coughed. Feeling embarrassed by his
own reaction, the summoner looked at his numb hands.
<<This energy… >>
It was the magic concentration that Su-hyeun was handling and the energy and
flames that were created by his magic.
Although it was just one clash, he was sure about it.
<<He is incompatible with me.>>
The summoner felt threatened.
Just based on Su-hyeun's movement alone, it seemed unusual. Not only that, but Su-
hyeun's magic was also incompatible with the summoner's.
The summoner finally found Su-hyeun — he couldn't find Su-hyeun earlier as he did
not know where he went.
In a way that suggested he was not too concerned about it, the summoner hurled his
cane like a wildcat in the air.
Dark energy started to burst everywhere. The surrounding air had been polluted,
and the ground and walls started to rot.
Burning, burning—
Eventually, Su-hyeun revealed himself.
It was an attack that left Su-hyeun with nowhere to hide. Though his control wasn't
right and was not as effective, it was a quick response.
<<How ignorant.>>
Su-hyeun frowned as he faced head-on with the dark magic.
Su-hyeun's eyes focused on the purple glowing stone that was located on the tip of
the cane.
<<Was it because of that?>>
Most of the summoner's magic had come out from that stone. It was quite easy to see
what kind of stone it was.
<<The highest grade of ether stones.>>
An ether stone that had contained magic.
It was a stone that could only be harvested in small quantities from the dungeons,
and a fistful of this resource could fetch astronomical prices. Most items used by
awakeners contained these ether stones. Of course, items with an ether stone of that
size were scarce.
<>
It made the situation harder to deal with, but not too much. It had never occurred to
Su-hyeun that he would lose to a summoner.
Burning, clash—!
As the dark energy and flames clashed, they began to compete. Su-hyeun grew the
fire with all his power and went for a head-on crash with the summoner.
"What…!" The summoner's voice exploded in bewilderment. The summoner began

to step back as the dark magic from his cane was pushed by Su-hyeun's flame.
At that moment, the flame that was bursting out from Su-hyeun's sword fell to the
ground.
Rip—!
A sharp sword attack split both the flame and the dark magic. The summoner, who
blocked the sudden attack by raising his cane, looked at his cane incredulously.
"What's… this…”
A crack formed on the cane. In fact, there were quite a bit of crack lines.
As cracks formed on the cane which he believed to be unbreakable, the summoner's

mind turned blank.
"It's not over yet."
Su-hyeun's sword rose up once again.
At the same time, the summoner held up his cane on reflex once more. He used dark
magic, forming layers of black protection around his body.
<<To crumble that wall… >>
He must narrow their distance.
After coming to a decision, Su-hyeun sprang to his feet. Having leaped into the air a
few times, it increased his speed.
Crack—
Su-hyeun's new form penetrated through the dark magic protection created by the
summoner.
His whole body ached. The feeling of flesh rotting could not be erased entirely by the
flames that were protecting his body.
But he endured it. Since he risked himself, the damage to the summoner would be
fatal.
Slash—!
The flame which had been scattered momentarily gathered immediately back at Su-
hyeun's sword.
Wielding the red sword in his hands, Su-hyeun aimed at the summoner who hid in
his protection.
"Goodbye."
Stab—
Su-hyeun's long sword pierced through the dark shroud.
"Whirl—"
Lee Ju-ho pointed his sword at the monsters and had his back towards the wall.
Grrr—
There was nowhere else he could retreat.
"There's a shit load of them, seriously."
It was his first time to come face to face with such a large number of monsters. It was
thanks to his skill Swift that he could survive up until now; otherwise, he would have
become their meal.
<<Have I killed around ten of them already?>>
However, there were still dozens more of them left.
Not only just physically, but mentally he had problems, too. Moreover, having to deal
with a large number of monsters on his own gave him enormous pressure.
Stomp, stomp—!
Grrr—
At that moment, the reactions of the monsters had changed.
The monsters which had been targeting Lee Ju-ho until now changed their line of
sight.
'What had happened over there?'
The fight between Su-hyeun and the summoner. Their fight made Lee Ju-ho feel sick.
<<It's not a fight that I should interfere in.>>
It was to the point where the magic concentration dispersed in the air during their
fight would cause his skin to shrivel up. It was obvious what would have happened if
he had interfered.
<<No, it wasn't only that.>>
It wasn't just a fight where they were just slashing, stabbing or shooting skills at
each other.
There was a massive gap between them; how would one utilize and use it?
Would the A-rank awakeners, who were of a level higher than him, be that way, too?
Even if so, he would never have thought that all A-rank awakeners would be as
strong as Su-hyeun.
<<If so, what about the S-rank awakeners?>>
That was when he realized that there was another piece of sky higher than the
current piece of sky.
<<Could I also be… >>
Blow—
He let out a deep sigh.
After calming himself down, his breathing had also slowed down.
For some reason, the mana that was nearly depleted dropped even more. Lee Ju-ho
felt better for nothing.
"Great."
Grab—
He straightened the sword in his hand and brought his legs back up.
"Shall we start…”
Clash—!
Boom—
That moment, the cave shook wildly, and two types of magic clashed.
"Oh, oh my."
Boom—
The flames that clashed with the dark magic exploded and shook the whole place.
The magic that could be felt from the end of Su-hyeun's sword started eating at his
body.
Rip—!
As it penetrated through the dark shroud, Su-hyeun wielded his sword wildly.
As the flame spread out, it swept in front of his eyes. At the same time, cracks quickly
formed on the dark shroud.
Crack, crack—
Bang—!
The summoner collapsed onto the floor amidst the broken dark shroud.
Although his head was pierced and his body was halved, the summoner's limbs were
still moving, creaking away.
"I… will… curse… you…”

"Do that when you're in hell."
Crack—!
With his feet stretched forward, Su-hyeun crushed the summoner's head.
A small bead rolled out from the empty skull. Su-hyeun looked at it and said, "Rest in
peace."
Grrr—
As the summoner's control disappeared, the monsters had lost their bearings. The
confused monsters did not even have thoughts to attack Su-hyeun and Lee Ju-ho.
"So, now…”
Su-hyeun looked at Lee Ju-ho, who was leaning against the wall, with a puzzled look.
Burning—
Su-hyeun used his remaining strength and spread the flames around him, which had
gathered on his sword.
"Let's wrap this up quickly and head back."
"Pant, pant—"
Lee Ju-ho laid on the floor and stretched widely. A burnt smell came out from his
mouth, and he could hear his heart beating clearly in his ear.
"I-I really can't move anymore."
His back was covered with the monsters' blood. He swore there was never a time
where he had slain as many monsters as he had today.
<>
He had prepared to lose his life, but he managed to survive.
Not sure if it was satisfaction or a sense of achievement, he felt proud of himself and
happy about it.
On top of that…
<>
Of course, it was compared to his other fights.
As he looked at Su-hyeun, who seemed to have a bit of health left standing without
issues, he felt a sense of shame.
A sneer escaped from the corner of his mouth. His skills were not as strong until he
personally witnessed how Su-hyeun dealt with a hundred over monsters.
Lee Ju-ho hadn't personally seen him fought them.
It was the same up till this moment. Su-hyeun saved up as much mana as he could
while fighting.
However, as his opponent was quite strong, Su-hyeun was still forced to go all out at
the summoner, which could be seen as the boss of the dungeon.
It was beyond Lee Ju-ho's imagination to be able to witness Su-hyeun's ability

through his own eyes.
He couldn't believe the Su-hyeun was just an awakener in his first year.
<<If a few more years pass… >>
Su-hyeun could be dubbed to be on par with the world's top rank awakeners, the S-
rank awakeners.
"Please rest up a bit."
Su-hyeun did not push Lee Ju-ho, who was spread out on the floor.
Since the summoner was slain, there was no use staying around in the dungeon
anymore. There was nothing else left for Lee Ju-ho to do.
There were only two things for Su-hyeun left to do.

<<Clearing up the summoner.>>
And…
Su-hyeun's eyes laid on the stone and the halved cane that was left behind by the
summoner.
<<Collection of the ether stone.>>
First and foremost, he had to crush the summoner's stone.
[Time limit: 00:01:45]
It was very close.
If they were a tad slower, they might not have even gotten to destroy the
summoner's stone on time.
Trudge—
Su-hyeun walked towards the summoner's stone and placed his hand on it.
In the aftermath of the fight, the stone gained some scratches and crack lines. As it
hadn't been completely crushed, it still had its functions.
As Su-hyeun touched the summoner's stone, he injected magic into it.
Waves of disturbance started stirring from within the stone as he injected magic into
it.
Su-hyeun started crushing the summoner's stone from within as he raised the
flames.
A while later.
Boom—
Crash—
The summoner stone that started to split from within showed streaks of red light
and started crumbling.
[You have passed the trial.]

"Hooo—"
As soon as he heard the message, Su-hyeun let out a sigh of relief.
It was now, finally, the end of it all.
As the tension in his body left, all the strength was drained from Su-hyeun's body. As
the effects of Berserk were lost, the temporary boost of health had plummeted to
rock bottom.
<<This dungeon attack would have been easier if I had better items with me.>>
Su-hyeun looked at the sword he held in his hand.
The sword that looked like gold had now reached its limit. Su-hyeun had to inject
magic into it to prevent it from breaking, but it could no longer endure Su-hyeun's
magic.
He made sure the sword would not crumble by injecting his magic. When he had to
use Flame, he used magic, and to maintain the sword, he could only use double the
amount of magic.
<<Even so… >>
Su-hyeun's gaze went to the stone that fell out from the summoner's head, as well as
the broken cane.
"The yield isn't that bad."
If he looked around the interior of the dungeon, there might have been more ether
stones left. Of course, there would not be any of a similar grade as the one in front of
him.
In a hurry, Su-hyeun took three ether stones with him. In fact, those were only
collectively named as ether stones, but each of their usages differed by a little.
<<Emotions.>>
[Lich's Life Stone.]
*An enhanced high-grade ether stone. It has a lifespan of 200 years.
*Limitation: Not a living person's.
[The highest grade of ether stones.]
*It contains a large amount of mana. As it had been used for a long time, its glow had
faded.
[Dimension Teleportation Stone.]
*A medium that twists dimensions and space. It can be operated with magic.
These three items.
The explanations were quite simple. The Dimension Teleportation Stone was the
main ingredient for the summoner to summon monsters and Lich's Life Stone was
the medium that made Lich able to move about.
<<A lifespan of 200 years… >>
A substance that could make humans live more than their expected lifespan.
But, there's a limitation. Only a non-living human could use this item.
"This kid, he used a cheap item."
Usually, Liches would want to have a lifespan of at least 500 years and above and
thus made the decision to become a Lich. And the Life Stones that they could obtain
were of quality better than this.
Of course, the life stone that Su-hyeun had in his hand now wasn't considered any
less valuable either. Even with this alone, it would become quite a useful item after
some enhancements. Above all, there was a considerable benefit from this.
<<The highest grade ether stone.>>

The purple stone was in Su-hyeun's hands. It was an item that would be too
invaluable to be exchanged for money. In fact, amongst the existing ether stones,
there was nothing else as substantial as this highest-grade ether stone in the world
right now. If this ether stone appeared in the market, it might be too difficult to give
an estimated selling price.
Of course…
<<It isn't an item worth selling.>>
He would use it solely for himself.
Since he couldn't bring the items used in the tower, he needed a separate set of
weapons here especially because a good weapon or two right now would help in
boosting up his power immediately.
After collecting all his yield, Su-hyeun flopped down onto the ground.
He had to take a rest before heading outside.
Act 4
Both Su-hyeun and Lee Ju-ho started to dig around in the dungeon to search and to
collect the ether stones.
There were many discussions about how ether stones were mostly found in the
dungeons where the boss was found. And in this dungeon, most ether stones were
used to maintain the summoner's stone. Although there were ether stones found on
certain parts of the walls in the dungeon, they did not have enough manpower and
equipment to harvest all the ether stones.
"Really, I'm alright."
Lee Ju-ho refused the ether stones that Su-hyeun had extracted for him. In fact, it was
safe to say that Su-hyeun had completed his dungeon attack alone.
"Are you really not going to accept this?"
"Yes. How can I accept this when I've done nothing?"

"Well, if you say so…”
Su-hyeun quickly put the ether stones in his arms. Honestly, he didn't need to have
these stones, but it was better to have them, just in case.
<<Although the amount is quite a disappointment.>>
Either way, it could be said that he had monopolized and harvested all the ether
stones here. Su-hyeun talked with Lee Ju-ho about various things as they walked out
of the dungeon.
As they exited the dungeon through the entrance where they first came from, their
views turned white, and the scene changed.
In reality, a full day had passed, and it was already the early morning. As they
stepped out, Su-hyeun and Lee Ju-ho stood rooted to the ground.
"Uh, the people…”
"Wait, didn't you say the attack had failed?"
"Are you the awakeners Mr. Lee Ju-ho and Mr. Kim Su-hyeun?"
"That-that's right! Hey, Ju-ho!"
"Survivors, it's the survivors!"
Dozens of people gathered around, making a scene.
There was a total of over 10 awakeners besides Ahn Min-seok, Lee Eun-mi, and Kim
Ba-reun. On top of that, there were a few reporters equipped with cameras.
Countless people were gathered, making a huge mess.
It seemed that the authorities had called other awakeners for assistance upon
hearing that the dungeon attack had failed. It wasn't surprising to see the reporters
being that interested in the awakeners.
Su-hyeun let out a deep breath as if exhausted.

Lee Ju-ho, who spotted it from the corner of his eye, spoke. "Throw the ball to me
and quickly get out of here."
"Will you be alright?"
"I'll say that both of us completed the dungeon attack together. If that happens,
maybe the distribution…”
"There you go."
Su-hyeun took out about half a portion of his ether stones and pushed them towards
Lee Ju-ho. He then spoke in a loud voice. "So, that's all for the distribution."
"Thank you. If there's another opportunity, I hope we can work together again."
As quick-witted as he was, Lee Ju-ho replied on time in a loud voice as well.
It was an amicable scene of equally distributing the ether stones after the end of a
dungeon attack. It was such a familiar scene that others could notice that both of
them had safely completed the dungeon attack.
"Oh my, did you really complete the dungeon attack?"
"Just the two of you? A yellow level dungeon?"
"Wait, doesn't this tell a different story? The dungeon was obviously…”
"We're from Ilsung Daily! I'd like to ask a few questions!"
Not just Kim Ba-reun, but the other party members shouted loudly in surprise, and
the other awakeners began to frown and question.
Taking advantage of the confused situation, Su-hyeun quietly made his escape.
Although there were a few who approached him, Lee Ju-ho had blocked them out.
"Now, let's all calm down. I'll explain the details to everyone here. Let's not tire the
exhausted."
But Lee Ju-ho should have been the most exhausted person instead.
Su-hyeun felt apologetic for throwing the situation on Lee Ju-ho and leaving first, but
he thought that it would be even more burdensome if he were to be captured on
screen.
Eventually, Su-hyeun left the place in a hurry. The remaining half of the ether stones
could be considered a labor cost.
When he had left the crowd and reached midway on the mountain, the mobile phone
in Su-hyeun's pocket started ringing. He then checked that it was a text message
from Lee Ju-ho.
<<I'll return the remaining half of the ether stones to you later. Or should I change
them to cash and transfer it to you?>>
It seemed like Lee Ju-ho was quite concerned over the ether stones that he had
received earlier.
Imagining the scene where Lee Ju-ho took the time to send a text message amongst
the curious crowd brought a smile to Su-hyeun's face.
In fact, it didn't matter much whether he received the ether stones or not.
<<Just think of it as a thought of gratitude.>>
Su-hyeun sent a reply to Lee Ju-ho's text message and started hurrying on his way.
There was someone worried about him.
As he was on his way home, Su-hyeun hurriedly bought clothes from a nearby
clothing store.
It was uncomfortable wearing clothes that were severely torn and filled with dirt.
Moreover, Su-hyeun could not return home in this state.
Shin Su-yeong nagged Su-hyeun for not contacting her, staying out the whole night,
and returning in the morning. They met just as Su-hyeun was returning home and
when Shin Su-yeong was about to leave the house for work.
"I'll see you when I'm back home, son."
Shin Su-yeong said that with a dull expression in her eyes as she was leaving for
work. Su-hyeun let out a deep sigh and muttered.
"I have to let her know, too…”
In any case, if he were to continue working as an awakener, things like this would
happen more often. He could not bring Shin Su-yeong so many worries every single
time.
<<If I say this… >>
Su-hyeun sat in front of the door and took out the C-rank awakener's registration
card to look at it.
If he showed her this, how would she react? Probably like the mother from his
previous life…
<<Whatever.>>
His mind would not think of it any further. He had decided to take a good rest before
thinking about it. It was too exhausting for him today.
<>
Su-hyeun put the two ether stones and the Dimension Teleportation Stone into his
bag, along with the remaining highest-grade ether stones he had left over after
distributing half to Lee Ju-ho.
After waking up from his sleep, he had to deal with these.
Three hours.
Su-hyeun only had slept for three hours. For others, it would just be a nap, but for
Su-hyeun, it was a long sleep.
When he woke up, the sun was already hanging over the sky. Su-hyeun took a
shower, got changed and was prepared to leave the house.
<<The place where I could conveniently trade would be… >>
An ether stone trading store near Gangnam Station. It was a store where he could
most conveniently dispose of the ether stones.
Su-hyeun took a cab, the transport which he would usually choose. Since he could
trade ether stones for cash in the future, he could easily afford the taxi fees.
After a 30-minute drive, the taxi came to a stop at Gangnam Station.
He paid the taxi fees with 20,000 Korean Won and alighted right beside Gangnam
Station.
Gangnam Station was busy with working adults from early in the morning. The
crowd was filled with people heading out for lunch, as well as students who were out
to play.
It had been a long time since Su-hyeun was out in a crowded area like this. Su-hyeun
took a while to look at his surroundings and then went on his way through a familiar
route.
<<Was it around here?>>
Amongst the tallest building in the area, there was a huge auction house where they
had rented out five entire floors from the building.
Su-hyeun's feet stopped right there.
Buzz—
When the sizeable automatic door opened, a spacious and vibrant lobby appeared.
It felt similar to the entrance of a luxury hotel's lobby. The lobby personnel saw Su-
hyeun's arrival and spoke.
"Welcome. How can I help you?" It was a male staff donned in a clean and neat outfit.
Su-hyeun looked at him and replied, "I came to sell my goods."

"When you mean goods?"
"They are ether stones."
As Su-hyeun replied, he took out the ether stones that were kept in his pocket and
showed the staff. Although they were the size of small marbles, he had a fistful of
them.
These were considered to be shabby compared to the highest-grade ether stones

that Su-hyeun kept.
But…
"Are these really all ether stones?"
The staff's eyes widened in surprise.
Though they might have been small, they were ether stones harvested from a yellow
level dungeon which over 10 B-rank awakeners had to gather in order to complete.
It wasn't surprising to see him shocked by the ether stones mined from that
dungeon.
"Please wait a moment."
The man bowed towards Su-hyeun, excusing himself and walking off with a skip in
his step toward somewhere else.
No, by the time he turned around the corner, he actually started running. Su-hyeun
waited just for a while as per the man's instructions.
Soon enough, the staff brought out another employee donned in a suit. It seemed
that this person was of a higher position.
"Hello. I'm Lee Kyeong-jong, in charge of ether stone trades."
He looked to be in his thirties and had a handsome face that could pass off as an
actor. Lee Kyeong-jong reached his hand out and shook hands with Su-hyeun before
taking out his business card.
He held the position of a department head. He was quite successful considering his
young age. If he was in charge of ether stone trades at an auction house of this size,
he would be someone most influential here.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Let's get you seated and continue."
"Thank you."
Su-hyeun followed Lee Kyeong-jong into a spacious room. On the doors of the
entrance, the enormous words "Premium Client Room" were printed on it.
<<Their hospitality was better than I had expected.>>
All this treatment just for a handful of ether stones. He could not imagine. Of course,
that was something that Su-hyeun had not expected.
<<… It's still 2020 here.>>

In the era where Su-hyeun had lived in, ether stones were not this precious and
valuable. Due to the persistent dungeon outbreaks, the supply of ether stones had
increased significantly; thus, it was treated to be a more valuable resource than gold.
Although the price wasn't too low, it was at a different level as compared to now. Up
until this time, the ether stones were too priceless to be even bought with money.
As Su-hyeun and Lee Kyeong-jong sat side by side, a female employee walked into
the room. She served a tray with two cups of coffee and left shortly, and that was
when Lee Kyeong-jong spoke.
"I heard that you are here to sell the ether stones."
"Yes."
"Did you personally join in the dungeon attack yourself?"
"I'm a C-rank awakener."
Lee Kyeong-jong looked somewhat surprised at Su-hyeun's answer. Perhaps it was

because of Su-hyeun's rank and the quality as well as the number of ether stones
which he had brought along with him.
<<An awakener's auction… >>
A D-rank awakener. It was what Su-hyeun had felt of Lee Kyeong-jong's standards.
He was at the level where he could begin to feel magic, but Lee Kyeong-jong chose to
earn money through ether stones instead of working as an awakener. In some ways,
it was a wise choice. Even without risking his life by climbing the Tower of Trials, he
could also earn money just by using ether stones. Perhaps he could get to where he
was now at this age with his title as an awakener.
"Can I see the ether stones?" Lee Kyeong-jong asked point-blank without beating
around the bush.
He seemed to have judged that it would be better to deal with it quickly instead of
going in circles.
Su-hyeun took out the stones kept in his pouch.

"Here they are."
As soon as the ether stones appeared in front of him, Lee Kyeong-jong's eyes
sparkled.
As the magic level of the dungeon increased, the value of the ether stones harvested
would increase exponentially because the ether stone was filled with the dungeon's
magic.
"It's quite… a huge stone."
As most ether stones were of the same size, Lee Kyeong-jong picked one up from the
pile and looked closely at it.
It needed to be assessed for Lee Kyeong-jong to know its exact value. Still, its value
was usually proportionate to its size.
Most ether stones found in the red level dungeons were the size of rice grains. Those
harvested from the orange level dungeons were slightly larger. Still, only ether stones
the size of a small marble could only be found in dungeons no higher than a yellow
level.
"Did you just walk into a yellow level dungeon?" Lee Kyeong-jong asked half-
doubtingly.
There was no reason for Su-hyeun to find excuses or lie about it. He nodded his head.
Lee Kyeong-jong's eyes sparkled once more.
<>
If it was of this standard, the ether stones would be on the lower mid-grade at the
very least.
Yellow level dungeons had difficulties with rare cases of completion. It would require
over 10 B-rank awakeners for the dungeon attack, or they would need help from an
A-rank awakener.
Even so, there seldom were high-grade ether stones, so they weren't worth much. So
to match the tastes of the auction house's clients, Lee Kyeong-jong definitely had to
get his hands on these ether stones.
But the problem was, how did a C-rank awakener obtain ether stones of this size?
Lee Kyeong-jong had a short conflict before posing his question.
"This ether stone… are you sure you obtained it through legal means?"
It was a situation where he could only have his suspicions. It was understandable. It
would be the same if it were Su-hyeun.
"Yes, I'm sure."
But besides this, there was nothing else he could add on.
If he had to come up with an excuse…
<<Although I'm a C-rank awakener, I could still complete a yellow level dungeon
attack by myself.>>
Who would even believe in that?
<>
With that reason alone, there was no other way to persuade him that it was obtained
legitimately.
Lee Kyeong-jong seemed to be in conflict with Su-hyeun's reply. As the silence grew,
Su-hyeun stood up from his seat.
"I'll look into other places."
He could have sold the ether stones at any other place. As if implying this, without
any hesitation, Su-hyeun reached out for the ether stones which were in Lee Kyeong-
jong's hands.
And then…
"Ah, don't worry. I'll buy them. I'll buy the stones."
Lee Kyeong-jong's lips which were shut tight spoke. As if the ether stones were
already his, he retrieved his hand while keeping it tightly clenched. With this, the
negotiation preparation had ended.
"How much are you thinking of selling them?"
After a short pause, Lee Kyeong-jong started the negotiations personally. As much as
the ether stones were not valued accurately, it was up to the seller to call the price.
"You can name your own price. But…”
Su-hyeun showed the ether stone held in his hands to Lee Kyeong-jong.
At the same time, Lee Kyeong-jong had just realized the ether stone in his hand had
disappeared.
<<Just exactly when?>>
Cold shivers went down his spine. Su-hyeun took one of the ether stones and placed
it in his pouch.
"Now open this pouch, and after you have assessed the ether stones…”
As if he wouldn't show Lee Kyeong-jong the ether stones in advance, Su-hyeun

blocked the opening of the pouch tightly with his hand.
"I'll only accept your asking price for just once."
He would leave immediately if he did not like the named price. There wasn't a
second chance.
A complicated calculation started going on in Lee Kyeong-jong's mind.
—Deposit 640,000,000.
—Balance 640,012,200.
A deposit transaction showed up on Su-hyeun's mobile phone. After waiting for a

moment when the negotiation ended, the staff ran towards the nearest bank to make
the deposit.
He had made his confirmation. Su-hyeun nodded his head and took out the pouch.
"Thank you for the pleasant deal."
"It was the same for me."
Lee Kyeong-jong reached his hand out towards Su-hyeun. Su-hyeun shook his hand.
640 million. It was the best amount that Lee Kyeong-jong could offer after making
various complicated calculations in his mind.
<<Although there wasn't much margin, it was a profit to have just obtained the
stones.>>
If they had bought this huge amount of ether stones at once, they could have left a
considerable amount of margin. As the ether stones were auctioned off, they could
have also earned a significant amount of commission.
Above all, obtaining these ether stones would be a massive lure for their clients as
well. This alone made it worthwhile to have the ether stones. It was a satisfactory
deal for both parties.
But Su-hyeun seemed to be quite calm seeing the amount on his mobile phone.
<<600 million… >>
It had been quite a while since he had an interest in money.
Either way, the value for money would have dropped to that of tissue in a few
decades.
Besides, he had earned a lot back then. In his previous life, he had earned so much
that this amount didn't seem significant in his bank account.
It wasn't too far from the era when there were over 20 awakeners on the world's top
100 financial business leaders list.
"If you have other products for sale in the future, please do not hesitate to contact
me."
"I'll hope for it to be of this amount the next time too."
There was no implication of decline. Instead, he had set the minimum amount to be
of a similar level for the next deal.
Lee Kyeong-jong laughed awkwardly as cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
<<This kid isn't so easy to deal with.>>
The dealing method had been the same, depending on whether the single calling
price was satisfactory or not. If it wasn't satisfactory for once, Su-hyeun would head
for another dealer without second thoughts.
<<He would have meant to hold onto a big fish once you've caught hold of it.>>
He still had to wait and see if Su-hyeun would be a big fish or just a minnow. But, Lee
Kyeong-jong felt that Su-hyeun's presence was strangely huge.
<<He absolutely isn't your normal C-rank awakener.>>
On the outside, Su-hyeun seemed to still be in his early twenties.
But his aura and gaze, as well as his tone, never felt the same. It was as if he was a
high-profile awakener who had several decades of experience.
S-rank awakener, Yoo Jin-sung.
The world-renowned top awakener in Korea.
He had felt the same presence from Su-hyeun when he had met Yoo Jin-sung for the
first time. It was a mystery as to why he could have felt that way when Su-hyeun was
just a C-rank awakener.
<<If this continues, I will have no money issues in the future.>>
Su-hyeun walked towards Gangnam Station to check on his deposit transaction. How
would Shin Su-yeong react if she saw how much he had earned this at one go?
But he had achieved his goal as expected. Su-hyeun took out the other ether stone
that he had kept in his bag.
[Highest-grade ether stone.]
Quite a ridiculous item.
It was of a different level from the ether stones which he had sold to Lee Kyeong-jong
earlier. In fact, the only similarity was its name.
There were two reasons as to why Su-hyeon devoted himself into his level varying
dungeon wholeheartedly. Firstly, it was to prevent disasters from happening in
Gwangju again. Secondly, it was to obtain this item.
<<Only four more of these will be available in the future.>>
The value of the highest-grade ether stone would continue to rise not only for now
but also in the distant future because this alone would also make a great tactical
weapon.
There were rumours that a billionaire who coveted its power kept the ether stone by
his side just to maintain his youth.
The highest-grade ether stone itself was such an incredible item.
<<Items made with the highest-grade ether stone would become the best item
regardless of its form or completeness.>>
In fact, the summoner that Su-hyeon had fought was no different than an empty
skeleton. It had maintained its lifespan with the life stone, but it was ultimately a
mere skeleton. The only reason why the summoner was able to have a fight briefly
with Su-hyeun was by making use of the magic from the highest-grade ether stone.
<<It wasn't just by putting it on a cane.>>
It had such powers when it wasn't enhanced by men, so what would its capabilities
be after being enhanced?
Su-hyeun was well aware of its capabilities. In fact, he had even encountered it
before.
The Sacred Sword, Balmung.
An item named after the holy and sacred sword that had slew dragons.
It was the same sword that Su-hyeun had used in his previous life, made with the
highest-grade ether stone.
<<Of course, it isn't enough with this alone to create Balmung.>>
Countless items were required to create Balmung. It was impossible to gather all the
items needed to make only the shaft now. Balmung was the highest-grade weapon
created to capture Fafnir, after sacrificing countless awakeners.
<<It's just quite a pity now… >>
Su-hyeun hailed a taxi and traveled towards Yangpyeong.
It took him an hour's ride to reach the remote forest. Su-hyeun walked along the
forest path, where there were little street lights, and not a single local resident could
be seen.
It was 4 PM in the afternoon. Although it was still quite early, it was getting dark in
the forest. As he was in the woods and it was winter, it was a given for the sun to
start setting early.
<<Was it around here?>>
Su-hyeun's footsteps hastened. Soon after, a standalone house with a small yard
came into Su-hyeun's sight.
Clank, clank—
The sound of iron could be heard through the door that was left slightly ajar. He had
found the right place.
As he carefully opened the door to the house, Su-hyeun spoke. "Is there anyone in?"
Clank, clank—
The sound of iron did not stop, nor was there any reply. Su-hyeun spoke in a louder
voice this time. "Is there anyone in?"
Clank—
The sound of iron stopped momentarily. Su-hyeun stood at the door, waiting. Soon
after, a middle-aged man donned in thick cloth walked out from the back of the
house.
"What is it? You're making so much noise!" He had a shaggy beard, burning red face,
and questionably raised eyes. It was a face Su-hyeun hadn't seen for a long while.
<<Uncle.>>
Craftsman Kim Dae Ho.
He was famous for his many talents, including iron smelting, weapon creation, and
jewelry crafting. He was now holed up in the mountains, after taking a massive
interest in ether stones and the awakeners' weapons.
<<He's still the same as always.>>
The weapon, Balmung, that Su-hyeun had was also crafted by him.
Act 5
The year was 2032.
There were lots of people gathered around him. Amongst them were high-ranking
awakeners, and even some amateurs were present as well.
They were all here to just guard one man. It was top secret that this large number of
people was called to gather by the edge halfway up the Yangpyeong mountain.
Just for one man. No, they were all here just to guard the one and only item.
Clank, clank—
The sound of iron could still be heard coming from the door. When would that sound
stop?
Sung-in pushed the door open and said, "Uncle, it's me."
The sound of iron had continued for quite some time before, but now it stopped
immediately, and the owner even came out to greet his visitor.
"You're here?"
Not knowing how long he had been sitting for, Kim Dae-ho walked out, hitting the
back of his waist. He scanned Sung-in from top to bottom and asked, "You seemed to
have made some achievement?"
"How did you know about it?"
"It's all over the news, kiddo. Are you crazy? You're still so young, yet going to all
those dangerous places trying to get yourself killed?"
"Well, it's my job to do so."
"What sane person would be so hardworking and go around looking for all these
places? Don't care about others, but take care of yourself first."
"Things never go as how I wish." Sung-in laughed lightly. If things had gone his way,
he would have already done it.
It was a topic that he hadn't hoped to talk about. Every time it was the same result, a
problem that had no answers to it. Sung-in changed the subject.
"What about the item I asked about the last time?"
"It's all done now. Here."
Kim Dae-ho pulled out the sword that was on his back and passed it to Su-hyeun. As
he had it on him so carelessly, Su-hyeun had not realized that it was the exact item
that he had asked for.
"This…”
"I named it Balmung."
Balmung. It was the name of the sword used by the hero Siegfried.
"What do you think? It's awesome, right?" As if satisfied with his own creation, Kim
Dae-ho grinned so wide that his yellow teeth showed.
Sung-in looked at the sword closely. At that moment, his expression had stiffened.
"What did you add into the sword?" Did he think that Su-hyeun wouldn't be able to
find out?
Kim Dae-ho, who had a smiling face on, shook his head. "Ah, this kid. Can't you just
shut up and take it?"
"Uncle, could you have…”
It wasn't only the highest-grade ether stone that was put into the sword. There was
also the item which Kim Dae-ho had cherished in his whole life, saying that he would
make a masterpiece out of it. It was thanks to that item that Balmung was a
masterpiece.
But…
"I can't accept this."
He wasn't happy at all.
"How can I accept this? Uncle, uncle, why did you…”
"Sung-in," Kim Dae-ho said in an attentive tone that was never heard from his mouth.
It made Su-hyeun wonder if such a warm tone could actually be heard from his
husky voice.
The flustered Sung-in kept quiet. Strangely enough, Sung-in's mouth was tightly shut.
"Everyone in the world calls you a hero. You know that, too, right?"
“…Yes."
"Don't live like that."
"What?"
"Your expression. Did you know that as you progress, it becomes darker? Why on
earth would you go around carrying the people's expectations, hopes, and
everything else?"
"That's because…” Sung-in could not answer.
It was a question that he could not find an answer to. Although he had thought about
it countless times a day, he could only arrive at one conclusion.
It was because he had no other choice.
If it weren't him, if he hadn't done it, if he hadn't existed…
After a long string of assumptions, his body eventually reacted first. And the result
was an exhausted body and mind. But it would happen all over again.
"Well, up until now, it was just my grumbles. I know it, too. No matter what I say, you
would never step out of your stubbornness," said Kim Dae-ho.
“…I'm sorry."
"You asked earlier, right? Why."
"Yes."
"Because it's unfair."
Just what about it was unfair?
He needed more details. Sung-in stared blankly at Kim Dae-ho.
Kim Dae-ho took over the sword in Sung-in's hands once more. He slid the sword
back into the sword shaft where the word "Balmung" was engraved on it.
"Everyone in the world has never done anything for you, and yet hope for your
assistance. What else is there in this world that's this selfish?"
"Is that being unfair?"
"Otherwise?"
"But that's…”
"You're saying it's your choice?"
Kim Dae-ho had already known what answer Sung-in was going to give. It was
obvious. It was something that Sung-in and Kim Dae-ho had talked about not long
ago. Kim Dae-ho hated it the most when people called Sung-in a hero.
"Yes, I know. That it was your choice."
Sung-in didn't respond.
"So that's why I want to take a stand in this unfair relationship, too."
The unbalanced relationship that Kim Dae-ho was referring to had meant the
vertical, one-sided relationship of unconditional giving. Kim Dae-ho grinned as he
handed over the sword with its shaft engraved with the word "Balmung."
"When the whole world is waiting for your assistance, there should at least be
someone who could be of help to you. Don't you agree?"
The craftsman, Kim Dae-ho.
When Su-hyeun first got to know of Kim Dae-ho, it was also at this place. Hearing
that Kim Dae-ho had taken an interest in weapons used by awakeners and started
making them in 2018, Su-hyeun had thought that he could be found there. A smile
naturally crept onto his face. There weren't many times where he smiled, but when
he saw Kim Dae-ho, a smile came to him.
"Uncle, I'm here."
It was a place that he often came to whenever he had tough times. But now, Kim Dae-
ho could not recall who he was.
<<He's much younger now.>>
He was already well over his sixties. However, Su-hyeun had last remembered Kim
Dae-ho to be an elderly man with grey hair and a hunchback. He looked much
younger now compared to back then.
Su-hyeun was glad to see him. He clasped his hand and spoke. "Nice to meet you. I'm
Kim Su-hyeun."
"Kim Su-hyeun? But what brought you here?"
Kim Dae-ho, who was working on his equipment until a while ago, showed an
irritated look on his face. What other reasons would there be for him to be holed up
in a mountain like this? It was for him to not get disturbed.
But Su-hyeun, who had already accepted his feelings, was undeterred by it.
"I heard that you have been creating weapons for awakeners."
"Who said that? Which blabbermouth…”
It looked like he was going to get furious right there and then. He seemed to have
thought that someone had exposed his location. Su-hyeun spoke in a calm voice
while Kim Dae-ho was jumping around in anger.
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"Get lost, kid! I don't do just any weapon!"
"It's not just any weapon."
"Ah, whatever, I'm not doing it…”
Kim Dae-ho's eyes widened in surprise. The stone that was the size of a fist was held
in Su-hyeun's hand. He spotted the highest-grade ether stone.
"Could this be…”
"It's an ether stone."
"Is this for real?" He gave a flabbergasted and astonished look also filled with joy and
anticipation. It was the exact reaction of the Kim Dae-ho he knew.
When others saw an ether stone, they would have a greedy expression on their faces
because they saw it as money, but it was different for Kim Dae-ho.
<<He is still the same.>>
The greed shown on his face was not materialistic. It was out of curiosity and
anticipation. It was the aspiration that had made Ki Dae-ho a craftsman. He was,
indeed, a true blue craftsman.
"Yes, it's the real deal."
"I've never seen such a huge ether stone. Never…”
"Wouldn't you recognize it, though?"
Kim Dae-ho nodded slightly at Su-hyeun's question.
Ever since the ether stones were discovered, he was a craftsman who realized that
the ether stones could be used to make items and had continuously made them. He
sold items when he had insufficient funds and used those funds to purchase ether
stones and other materials. Then he would continue to make equipment and items
again. He had dealt with ether stones more than anyone else in the world. Thus,
there was no excuse for him to not be able to differentiate between an ordinary
stone and an ether stone.
"Where exactly did you get this from?" It finally seemed that he wanted to talk.
"Is the source of it important?"
"Not really." Kim Dae-ho grinned widely. It looked as if he was really enjoying it.
His reaction was as expected. The origin of the ether stone was never important to
him. What was most important was that an ether stone of this size had appeared in
front of him.
"Right. What do you want?"
"I want a sword."
"A sword?"
"Yes. I hope you could make me a killer sword."
In this era, no one else in this world had better weapon crafting skills than Kim Dae-
ho. To Su-hyeun's knowledge, Kim Dae-ho would still be the only renowned
craftsman even in the distant future. It was up to the point where the equipment and
items created by him were traded at premium price points in the future.
"If so, you've come to the right place." Kim Dae-ho kept smiling and spoke with
confidence.
"I don't need any payment. Since you've brought such a precious item, it'll be free."
"You're quite straightforward."
"Let's set up a contract. As for the guarantor…”
"I don't need it."
Su-hyeun shook his head at Kim Dae-ho, who was anxious to get started on the
production.
Kim Dae-ho, who was in a hurry to create the contract, stopped and turned his head
around.
"What?"
"I don't need the contact, Uncle."

Kim Dae-ho responded with a blank face at Su-hyeun's words. It seemed that Kim
Dae-ho did not fully understand the meaning behind what Su-hyeun said.
Kim Dae-ho frowned slightly and asked, "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, I'm certain."
"Look kiddo, tell me the truth. Where did you pick the ether stone up? Are you not
aware of how precious this item was?"
How could Su-hyeun be oblivious to it? The only person in this world who could have
known how valuable this item was was Su-hyeun. Even so, there was only one reason
that made Su-hyeun shook his head.
"I trust you, Uncle."
“…What?"
"Wasn't the only thing which you hoped for was a sword made with that stone? The
process of using that item."
There was a slight twist in Kim Dae-ho's expression. After showing a preposterous
expression, he opened his mouth.
"Ke, kah, kahahaha!" It was blinding. His roaring laughter came back, echoing from
the forest beyond the door.
It had been a while since Su-hyeun saw Kim Dae-ho laughing so heartily. He, of
course, had expected it.
Su-hyeun himself, too, was also aware of how ridiculous his words were.
"You're quite an interesting lad. No, are you a weirdo? Anyway…” Kim Dae-ho took
the ether stone in Su-hyeun's hand and spoke. "You're right. What I wanted was the
process of creating the sword, not this item itself. Let me ask you one last thing."
Kim Dae-ho held up the ether stone he took from Su-hyeun in front of his eyes and
asked, "Do you truly trust me?"
"Yes, I have my trust in you."
"Kek. Kah! You're a weirdo, young lad." Once again, Kim Dae-ho started laughing
heartily.
Soon, his laughter disappeared without a trace, and all that was left was a stern look.
"So, alright. As much as you have put your trust in me, I will return that favor as well.
I'll create a sword out of this world."
"Yes, please do your best."
Su-hyeun reached out his hand to Kim Dae-ho cheekily. Kim Dae-ho blankly stared at
Su-hyeun's hand for a while before grasping it. Strangely, there was a familiar feeling
even though they had just met.
Su-hyeun then returned home immediately. It was already late evening. Su-hyeun
arrived back home around a similar time as Shin Su-yeong.
Shin Su-yeong had prepared a simple stew and had been waiting for Su-hyeun's
return. As she looked at Su-hyeun, who arrived back home late, she spoke out
immediately.
"Son, shall we talk?"
“…Yes."
What had to come eventually came. Su-hyeun took his seat at the dining table. They
did not turn on the television for this conversation.
Shin Su-yeong started to speak first.
"Tell me, truthfully, son. You are hiding something from me, right?"
"Yes, I am." Was it because he had been expecting this moment for a long time? He
didn't find much difficulty replying. "You know what kind of person an awakener is,
right?
Shin Su-yeong's eyes wavered at Su-hyeun's question.
Seeing that she wasn't too surprised, Shin Su-yeong must have had her suspicions
and guesses.
"Yes, of course, I know."
"Then, you should know how dangerous that job is, too."
"Of course. Your mom has eyes and ears, too."
"Mom, actually…”
Su-hyeun closed his eyes tightly. Su-hyeun held his breath for a moment and started
telling his story.
Everything that had happened before. How Su-hyeun started as an awakener, the
things that every other awakener had gone through by clearing trials to get even
stronger. He even spoke of yesterday and the day before, when he had gone for a
dungeon attack.
After Su-hyeun had told all of his stories, he observed Shin Su-yeong closely.
"Mom, why… do you have this expression?"
The one flustered should have been Shin Su-yeong, as it was Su-hyeun who had been
keeping all of this a secret until now. But after all of this had been said, it was Su-
hyeun who felt flustered.
"What kind of expression should I have?"
Su-hyeun stumbled at Shin Su-yeong's rhetorical question and finally spoke.
"Aren't you angry?"
Su-hyeun had expected Shin Su-yeong to flare up at him and be worried about him.
Shin Su-yeong had always worried over him even when nothing happened, asking if
he had been taking his meals; Su-hyeun could never imagine how worried she would
be when he revealed that he had been fighting monsters all this while.
But…
"It's not something that I should be angry about."
Not only did Shin Su-yeong not flare up at him, but she only put on a sad expression.
Su-hyeun had never expected such a reaction from her.
"Why?"
"Son."
Hearing Shin Su-yeong's voice, it broke Su-hyeun's heart.
"Wasn't it tough?"
Su-hyeun's eyes widened at Shin Su-yeong's question. That short phrase created a
considerable stir deep in his heart.
It was tough. It was quite tough at that.
Never had anyone asked him this question before. Not even his mother from his
previous life.
"Won't it be even tougher… in the future? Won't you feel exhausted or even regret
your decision?"
It would be tough. Even more so as compared to now.
Instead of hearing words of encouragement, it was his first time hearing words of
concern like these.
Something rushed up from within Su-hyeun as he was forced to suppress his

feelings. Su-hyeun, afraid to show his tears, clenched his fist tightly, bit his lips, and
lowered his head.
"Yes. I'm… alright."

His heart and mouth could only respond differently. Su-hyeun could never bring up
the word "difficult" in front of Shin Su-yeong.
Either way, it was something that he was prepared for all along. She probably would
have known about it, too.
But even so, Shin Su-yeong did not stop Su-hyeun. She could never be happy nor sad
for Su-hyeun.
"If you say it like this, there's nothing I can do."
Shin Su-yeong had already known.
Seeing how Su-hyeun did not tell her the truth and his thoughts, it meant that her
persuasion or words would not work on him. She knew that right at this moment,
her persuasion and worries would only make it harder on Su-hyeun. Thus, all she
could do now was encourage him. Furthermore, Shin Su-yeong did not want to
change Su-hyeun's life.
Shin Su-yeong respected and supported Su-hyeun's decision. If it meant for Su-hyeun
to have a happier life…
"I'll support you, my son."
Shin Su-yeong hugged Su-hyeun.
For some reason, something surged up from within once again.
"Thank you."
He could not show his weak side in front of Shin Su-yeong. Not being able to cry, Su-
hyeun suppressed his feelings and laughed.
"Thank you, mother."
After that, Shin Su-yeong began to ask Su-hyeun various questions. She questioned
what kind of job awakeners did, whether it was dangerous, and how busy the job
was. And of course, she had also insisted for him not to take up too dangerous jobs if
possible.
Su-hyeun responded to them all, saying, "I got it." He didn't want to see Shin Su-
yeong getting anxious over him.
"Really?"
"Yes. Look at this."
Shin Su-yeong stared in shock as Su-hyeun showed her his bank deposit balance.
"Lies…”
"Do you want to confirm this with me at the bank tomorrow?"
"Oh my, oh my…”
She had heard that awakeners had a job that paid well, but never did she expect
them to be able to earn this much just overnight.
The amount that Su-hyeun earned overnight was what Shin Su-yeong could only
make after working for over 20 years.
"Aren't you being too happy?"
"Of course. Why would anyone hate money?"
"But you weren't pleased earlier?"
"Well, that's that, and this is this."
"Oh my…”
Although he knew Shin Su-yeong liked money, he had never expected her to change
her attitude this fast. Su-hyeun let out a sigh and shook his head. Even so, he felt
relieved that Shin Su-yeong did not show an even more tormented look.
<<She might have intentionally hidden that side of her as well.>>
Either way, he felt good.
Shin Su-yeong, who was always struggling with monetary issues, thought that she
could finally relax for a bit now.
"Let's go take a look at houses tomorrow."
With this money, they could finally escape from this basement apartment. Shin Su-
yeong could also achieve her dream of having her own little store. Moreover, Shin Su-
yeong had always wanted to manage a store of her own.
As their conversation ended, they watched the television as they had their dinner.
Right on time, Lee Ju-ho's face appeared on the news.
"Last night, a dungeon that appeared in Gwangju, Gyeonggi province's Anyak

mountain had a level change. Fortunately, the leader of the party, Lee Ju-ho, who led
the dungeon attack, completed the dungeon attack; but through this accident…”
This type of dungeon had not yet appeared up until now; thus, it was enough to be
reported as news.
But it wasn't creating much stir as Su-hyeun had expected. The news had only served
its purpose of warning the public that such dungeons were appearing as well.
Buzz—
Su-hyeun's smartphone rang as soon as he stepped into his room after dinner.
It was a call from Lee Ju-ho.
"Hello?"
<<Are you not going to accept it?>>
It's the same topic over again.
Although Lee Ju-ho had sent the same text messages previously, Su-hyeun's replies
never changed.
But no matter what, Lee Ju-ho seemed not to have any thoughts on accepting the
other half of the ether stones that were given to him.
"I have lots of money. I'm not that poor to accept them shamelessly, nor do I have any
reason to."
"Isn't there a reason for you to accept them? You kept my secret and even took care
of the annoying issue for me. That's enough reason."
"But it's too much compared to what I've done. It's not wrong to say that you've
completed the dungeon attack yourself, isn't it?"
Lee Ju-ho's opinion was more tenacious than he had thought. He didn't seem easy to
persuade.
If so…
"How about this, can you lend me your name?"
"My name?"
"More accurately, your B-rank awakener title. Since there are higher possibilities for
a B-rank awakener to register for a red level dungeon attack alone, you'll just have to
add me in."
There will be more dungeon attacks happening in the future. Instead of hiding Su-
hyeun's capabilities and strengths, it's better if both he and Lee Ju-ho worked
together as a team. Moreover, if there's only the both of them, the distributed amount
of ether stones will be higher, too.
"Of course, if you think that's troublesome…”
"No, it's not. Let's do it according to your suggestion."
His reply was quick. Lee Ju-ho seemed to have thought that Su-hyeun's suggestion
was better for himself, too. To be able to enter a dungeon attack with a skilled
awakener like Su-hyeun wasn't a bad proposal for him either.
"I'll take your acceptance as agreement, and will contact you in the future. If you
want to apply first, that's fine, too."
"Yes, I'll wait for your call."

That ended their phone conversation. Su-hyeun's expression relaxed as his worries
were lifted off his shoulders.
<<With this, I don't have to create a fake identity either.>>
He didn't need to get the awakener's registration card that one needed to obtain
permission for a dungeon attack thanks to his new friend, Lee Ju-ho. The minimum
conditions of being at least a B-rank awakener for joining a dungeon attack was
fulfilled thanks to Lee Ju-ho.
The issue with Shin Su-yeong had also been resolved amicably. It felt as though an
immense thunderstorm had quickly passed.
<<Now… >>
All he had to do was to look forward and achieve his goals.
The next day.
Su-hyeun left home as the day broke. Now, Shin Su-hyeun did not even ask Su-hyeun
where he was headed. Su-hyeun opened the door to the Tower of Trials.
<<The things I have to do.>>
It was different compared to the times where he meaninglessly climbed the tower
without goals.
Now, he had a clear goal for climbing the Tower of Trials. There was also an apparent
reason for doing it. Strangely, his feet felt light. With this feeling, it felt as if he could
do achieve anything.
Step—
Su-hyeun stepped into the Tower of Trials.
[Kim Su-hyeun, your 11th-floor trial starts now.]

Lee Ju-ho, who was fidgeting on his smartphone, suddenly had a surprised
expression on his face.
Lee Ju-ho, who habitually went on Abyss Online on the go to check for updates, got
his eyes caught on a post where an awakener introduced himself as the awakener on
the 12th floor.
"Already…?"
The awakener who had cleared the 11th floor was moving onward to the 12th, which
meant the record on the 12th floor was the ranking from the 11th floor's trial.
Seated beside Lee Ju-ho, Kim Ba-reun asked, "What? What is it?"
Lee Ju-ho brought his smartphone screen in front of Kim Ba-reun's eyes.
"Kim Su-hyeun? He has already cleared the 11th-floor trial?"
"Yeah. It looks like Su-hyeun's record this time was quite insane, too."
"They're really something. Whether it's this Su-hyeun or the other Su-hyeun, they're
both…” Kim Ba-reun, who wasn't aware that both Su-hyeuns were actually the same
man, shook his head.
His admiration was just for the famous Kim Su-hyeun, the one who had been
creating the highest record made in history as he climbed each floor. But the surprise
that Lee Ju-ho had was of a different level than Kim Ba-reun's.
He, on the other hand, had received a call from Su-hyeun yesterday morning.
"I am going to go to the 11th floor of the Tower of Trials. I might be hard to get in
contact with for the time being."
Reality and the world in the Tower of Trials were totally different. And obviously, it
would be impossible to contact anyone from inside the Tower of Trials via
smartphone.
Thinking that Lee Ju-ho might have contacted him immediately, Su-hyeun gave him a
heads up in advance. No one could tell unless they knew in advance how long it
would take to clear a trial or the content of the trial.
But…
<<How could he have cleared it in a day?>>
Su-hyeun had always cleared the level 10 trials of each floor. It was a kind of identity
for the awakener named Kim Su-hyeun. And of course, it was almost impossible to
clear such a trial just within a day.
<<Really… He makes others quite speechless.>>
Lee Ju-ho grinned widely and locked his smartphone. He laid back down and spoke.
"Head back now if you're done. I can discharge tomorrow, so don't be too worried."
Lee Ju-ho, who was donned in a patient's outfit and was being admitted to the
hospital, waved his hand at Kim Ba-reun, implying that the latter was annoying.
Kim Ba-reun hit his chest at Lee Ju-ho's reaction, feeling frustrated. "This fool. How
did you think of challenging a dungeon when its level was raised?"
"I don't know either. But it was harder than I had thought, really."
"Thankfully, you did not die. Don't you know? The rule of the Tower of Trials. How
big of a difference it is for every floor."
Even if it was just a single level difference, the difficulty got exponentially harder as
it ascended. Therefore, the higher class awakeners would challenge the lower level
trials, but never the higher ones. It was a clear rule for the awakeners to survive.
But Lee Ju-ho had broken that very rule.
"Right. I know that it was suicide, but it just so happened."
"Why did you suddenly have a change of heart? You even said so yourself that
climbing the Tower of Trials was a stupid thing to do."
"I'm not sure. After escaping from death once, my thoughts seemed to have changed."
“…You have changed a lot."
"I'll take that as a compliment. And I want to rechallenge it sometime later."
"Are you for real?" Kim Ba-reun asked in surprise.
How could he want to rechallenge it after all that? Even if he was lucky enough to
have survived that time, he had not actually passed the trial.
He should have returned back to reality by now.
"Yeah. I will continue to challenge it as long as I'm alive."
“…What about the dungeon attacks?"
"I'm sorry, but we can't go together in the future. I think I'll concentrate on climbing
the Tower for the time being."
Kim Ba-reun bit his lips tightly after hearing Lee Ju-ho's response. As he saw the
expression on Kim Ba-reun's face, Lee Ju-ho felt a bitter pang in his heart.
<<Looks like it's really the end here.>>
He was the friend who contacted him suddenly one day, saying that he had become
an awakener.
In the years that followed, Lee Ju-ho and Kim Ba-reun had gone to dungeon attacks
together. And it had been a year since then. But instead of supporting or worrying
about Lee Ju-ho, Kim Ba-reun looked disappointed at the fact that they could no
longer go on dungeon attacks anymore.
Lee Ju-ho closed his eyes. Kim Ba-reun lastly wished him well and then left the room.
Lee Ju-ho felt slightly bitter, but at the same time relieved too.
It was something he had to say either way. In fact, he was also afraid of how his
friend would have reacted to it. But now, he would be able to focus on climbing the
Tower, like before.
<<Would it be possible?>>
As he recalled the trial which he had challenged the day before, he felt a little
frightened. Even so, it was not suitable to be hesitant about challenging the trials.
<<Tomorrow, I must once again… >>
Three months later, a yellow level dungeon appeared in Jongro, Seoul. The Ares Guild
was being selected as the guild to head the dungeon attack.
"Thanks for the hard work!"
"Thanks for the hard work!"
Tens of awakeners bowed towards one man in the group: the Ares Guild's master,
Jeong Dong-yeong. Jeong Dong-yeong went around patting each awakener in the
guild and sent them off.
"Right, you've worked hard. Hak-joon stays back, and everyone else should head
back for an early rest."
"Yes!"
At Jeong Dong-yeong's orders, the guild members quickly dispersed on the spot.
Jeong Dong-yeong and Hak-joon remained and let out exhausted pants while
boarding the back seats of a black sedan.
"Is it tiring?"
"This dungeon attack was quite tough. Why didn't you take an easier one?"
"If I did that, the attack would be too easy. Yellow level dungeons are hard to come
by, and it could also be a chance for others to increase their skills."
"Someone could die in the midst of it. These days, the death rates of awakeners are
increasing, too…”
"If so, that will explain that person's capabilities."
Hak-joon's expression became slightly twisted after hearing Jeong Dong-yeong's cold
reply.
Jeong Dong-yeong genuinely did not care for the other awakeners' lives. Had he paid
more attention to the dungeon attack as an A-rank awakener, the dungeon attack
would have been completed without anyone getting injured.
"I heard that you're in contact with the kid called Kim Su-hyeun?"
Hak-joon's face stiffened at Jeong Dong-yeong's question. Hak-joon had never told
Jeong Dong-yeong about it.
“…Yes."
"Was he really that Kim Su-hyeun? That guy apparently has gone up to the 15th floor
recently."
The 15th floor.
It was never a high floor. No, instead, it was a relatively low floor.
Hak-joon was now already on the 28th floor, challenging all the level 8 trials on each
floor. But even so, if anyone asked whether Hak-joon was stronger than Kim Su-
hyeun, it definitely wasn't so. All the records Kim Su-hyeun had made up until now
on the 15th floor had already surpassed Hak-joon's records on the 28th floor by a lot.
"If he was that guy…”
"It couldn't be."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes. Haven't I told you before? Brother…”
"Brother? You've got a lot closer to him now, haven't you?'

Hak-joon could not continue further. No, he thought that he should not answer any
further. Whatever his answer was, the consequences would be adverse.
Jeong Dong-yeong grinned at Hak-joon's stiffened expression.
"Kiddo, what's with this expression? I was only asking."
"It's nothing. Just…”
"Anyway, if he is the Kim Su-hyeun I know, try to entice him. Even if it fails, that's fine,
too. If you guys are close, isn't he considered my younger brother as well?"
The Ares Guild was growing bigger as each day passed. Jeong Dong-yeong, too, was
quite a capable awakener, and the guild had a lot more awakeners than before. Now,
even the guild placed in the higher ranks as well.
“…Yes. I got it."
Hak-joon nodded his head while he replied. Hak-joon was quite disturbed by the
smartphone in his pocket. As the sedan's engine started, it started heading
somewhere.
It was the next dungeon's location.
Act 6
[Kim Su-hyeun, the 15th-floor trial starts now.]
Time had passed by quite quickly.
Time did not give anyone even an inch of error. The world continued moving on like
a rewound video, slowly showing the next scenes of a story.
But there were definitely differences that had occurred.
A small stone that was tossed into a gigantic lake.
And the waves that it created started rippling out.

The year was 2021, when the world had actually started to change.
Grr—
A 16-foot tall huge monster stood with its mouth open.
The monster's two horns were broken into halves, and it had bright red-colored skin
similar to that of a tiger. The monster appeared in the middle of a medieval European
city. It was said that the beast was sealed in the grounds underneath the city since
ancient times.
Su-hyeun frowned as he looked at the monster.
"It took me a lot of effort in finding you."
"Please, please be careful!"
There was someone who did not run away. He was a young man who lived in the
village, and Su-hyeun had come across him a few times.
Kyaa—!
The ancient monster faced the skies and cried out loud. It was laughing instead of
crying. It was laughing madly.
It seemed that it was quite happy to have been freed from its seal.
"You, you must escape…”
Even if he was stammering, the young man could not make his run without Su-
hyeun. Su-hyeun was not sure whether he was being nosy or had a sense of justice.
Either way, Su-hyeun was thankful that he worried about him.
But…
"Hey."
Su-hyeun ignored the young man's words and called out to the ancient beast.
"You shouldn't be laughing at a time like this."
Grr—
Only then did the ancient beast look at Su-hyeun directly. It had a puzzled look. It
crumpled its face after realizing that Su-hyeun wasn't the least bit afraid of itself.
"What are you looking at?"
It turned around at Su-hyeun's voice which came from behind.
Slide—
Squelch—!
The sword wielded from behind, blew up at the ancient beast's body. Blood gushed
out from the slash made on its back.
Stomp, stomp—
Crack, kyaaa—!
The ancient beast roared at Su-hyeun as it had almost gotten stuck to the ground.
Su-hyeun swung his sword a few times in the air as he felt a heavy feeling at the tip
of his sword.
"Indeed, I can't use this any further."
The ancient beast's skin being thick was a problem in itself, too. But there was also a
problem with the sword that he was using as well. A year had passed since Su-hyeun
had started wielding the sword. It wouldn't be much of a problem on the lower
floors, but using it at this time was an issue.
<<He did say it would be completed soon, so… >>
It was time to stop talking about the sword. Even if he used a blunt sword, it would
still be enough to deal with the monster which stood before Su-hyeun.
"So let's…”
Kya, kyaa—!
The flame was set ablaze on Su-hyeun's sword. Two birds created from the flame
appeared around Su-hyeun at the same time.
They were phoenixes, which were born from the flames.
"Bite it."
Kyaa—!
The two phoenixes flew towards the monster at Su-hyeun's order.
Black flames that came out from the monster's mouth swept through the phoenixes'
bodies. The phoenixes disappeared without a trace, and the monster shifted its
vision on Su-hyeun.
Slash—!
Squelch—!
The two phoenixes broke through the black flames and began to bite on the
monster's body.
Kyaa—!
The monster struggled to shake off the two phoenixes that clung onto its body, but
the monster had overlooked something for the moment.
It was Su-hyeun that was now over its head.

The flames turned blue for a while. As the monster felt high heat above its head, it
stopped its actions and looked above.
Grr—
What the monster saw above its head was a gigantic blue sword.
And soon.
Slash—
A blue line similar to that sword sliced the monster's body into half.
Sludge, sludge—
The monster's body fell to the sides, starting from its head. The beast quickly raised
its arm to keep his body from falling off, but, of course, it wasn't possible.
Stomp, stomp—
Its massive body finally split into half and fell onto the floor. Thick blood flowed, and
Su-hyeun, who stood in front of the corpse, extinguished the flame and caught his
breath.
Pant—
A blue flame and the flame's bird, the phoenix.
Both of them were newly acquired abilities obtained through leveling Flame's skill. It
was his first time checking out their effects, and each had its own pros and cons.
<<Did the problem lie with the magic factor?>>
Firstly, the required mana to maintain the phoenix was quite substantial.
Moreover, the phoenix was a summoner that never perished if Su-hyeun could have
an indefinite supply of mana to maintain the flame.
But the mana consumption was too high. And it was the same for the blue flame.
<<Their abilities were powerful, but… I might have to restrain myself.>>
The phoenix maintained its original form even though it had suffered attacks from
the ancient beast. It was because Su-hyeun had kept supplying mana so that it
doesn't disappear.
But at that moment, Su-hyeun felt his magic factor got slashed tremendously. It was a
tremendous amount of magic that he hadn't expected to use.
<<I've got to increase my proficiency. Compared to the skill's effectiveness, the mana
consumption is… >>
Stumble—
Then, the monster's body convulsed vigorously. Su-hyeun's gaze fell onto the
monster's half slain body. It was fascinating that the monster hadn't died yet. It's too
horrible to think of one being alive while in that state.
Come to think of it, there wasn't any message of him clearing the trial.
<<Was its long life one of its unique traits?>>
It wasn't too bad of a trait, but it wasn't one that would make Su-hyeun envious.
What could one do with that enormous amount of strength if he had to also be stuck
in that situation?
"Even so, you…”
Burning—
Su-hyeun brought out the flame once again.
"I can't use the transfiguration ingredients either."
But it was also much too useful for an 18th-floor trial. It wasn't to the level of
wanting that ancient monster's trait to himself.
Clank—!
Su-hyeun swung his sword and lit the flame. At that moment, a gigantic blaze swept
over the ancient monster's body.
[You have attained the highest achievement.]
[You have cleared the 19th floor trial with perfection.]
[You will be ranked according to your performance.]
[You have been ranked first.]
[You have gained 1 health point…]
……
The string of messages appeared simultaneously. It had also meant that the monster
had finally died.
The objective of the trial was to end the unstable resurrection of the ancient monster
and the creature. Of course, several forces attempted to fully revive the monster in
the process.
<<It should have made the fight start from the very beginning.>>
It was annoying being instructed on what to do.
Although it would be manageable for Su-hyeun to handle the monster at the current
level, it would not be a smooth process. However, he had eventually succeeded in
finishing off the ancient monster that had hibernated under the city. It had taken him
two months to clear the trial.
"T-t-the monster…”
The young man who had warned Su-hyeun to be careful earlier had now flopped on
the ground and was muttering to himself. After the monster appeared, everyone had
escaped to the outskirts of the city. Only Su-hyeun and the young man were left.
Su-hyeun looked at the young man. The young man looked back at Su-hyeun with
fear in his eyes.
<<Well, in his eyes, both I and the monster are one and the same.>>
There was no other reason for him to stay there. Su-hyeun lifted his head towards
the sky and spoke.
"Ascend."
[You will ascend on to the 20th floor.]
His sight had turned white in an instant, and a vast city appeared before him once
again.
It was a city that had been fully frozen and covered in white. The world on the 20th
floor was a frozen city called Raglia.
Its temperature had reached as low as minus 60 degrees. On the 20th floor was a
dying city where no living human would be able to live in.
Su-hyeun could hear people's mutters as he stepped into the square.
A crisis existed every 10 floors at the Tower of Trials. The trials at every 10th floor
had exceptionally high difficulty, which brought about high numbers of death. Thus,
only special awakeners gathered every 10 floors, including the 20th and 30th floors.
<<Regardless, I have arrived within the stipulated time.>>
31st December.
Today was the last day of the year.
Su-hyeun had aimed to achieve his goal to reach the 20th floor before the year
ended. Though he had cleared the trial with ease at first, the last trial had been a
drag.
Even so, he was able to arrive on the 20th floor according to his goal. Of course,
something was missing.
<<As expected, was level seven too far-fetched?>>
The magic level and factor.
His original aim was to achieve a magic level of seven, and a magic factor of 70, but
he was short of achieving those goals. Although he was able to pull up his magic
factor to 68, which neared 70, his magic level still stayed at level six.
[Magic Factor: 68] [Magic Level: 6]
[Skill: Leap *Details.]
[Skill: Transfiguration *Details.]
[Skill: Flame…]
[Fatigue: 15.]
Compared to two years back when he first entered the Tower of Trials, the status
window had lengthed quite a bit.
There was an overall increase in stats and magic level, a magic factor was a given,
and an increase in skills.
Two years.
Though it wasn't a short time, it wasn't quite long either. If someone were to witness
Su-hyeun's stats with their own eyes, his mouth would be wide-open in awe.
<<It was definitely a rapid growth.>>
Although he had a high magic factor and level, the overall increase in stats was
remarkable, too.
<<Although the growth in magic was slower than expected… >>
Some parts complemented others, and there were some areas that Su-hyeun was
satisfied with.
<<Well, the growth in skill proficiency was quick.>>
It was not sufficient, but rather at a rapid speed. His initial aim was set so high that it
could be deemed as impossible to meet. Having nearly achieved his initial goal, it
also meant that his performance wasn't that bad.
[Achievement points: 1,981,400.]
Su-hyeun checked on the amount of achievement points he had accumulated.
Although it was a massive number, it was slightly insufficient.
<<20,000 more points to go.>>
2,000,000 achievement points.
It was the price of the "highest grade potential booster" that Su-hyeun wanted to get
his hands on. Like all the other awakeners, what Su-hyeun needed most was magic.
Though nothing such as the skill's composition or items were unimportant, high
magic levels and factors had the power to ignore them all.
<>
Considering that it too was an impossible goal, he had accumulated quite a

considerable amount of achievement points.
Although it was a pity, it had not occurred to him that he would not clear the 20th
floor's trial.
<<He definitely said that it was today, right?>>
Thankfully, the date had matched up. Kim Dae-ho said that it would take almost a
year to complete the weapon that Su-hyeun had requested.
"The ranking has been updated!"
Then, the square was filled with a certain awakener's voice. The ranks were, of
course, updated regularly, but it wasn't hard to understand his words.
"Ranking? Could it be the first place?"
"Could it be…”
"Kim Su-hyeun has arrived on the 20th floor?"
The square turned noisy in an instant.
The ranking had been updated. This also meant that Kim Su-hyeun had ascended to
the 20th floor.
<>
Su-hyeun left the square and turned into a dimly-lit alley. Su-hyeun moved quietly
alone in the crowd, and the public seemed to not have paid any attention. There
were already tens of people gathered at the square anyway.
As soon as he entered the alley, Su-hyeun opened the door.
Rip—
Su-hyeun returned to reality and soon turned on the car's engine.
It was a relatively expensive red sports car. It's quite a pity to drive it deep into the
mountains.
Though Su-hyeun did not have much interest in the car, he had no reason to not ride
it since it was a gift.
<>
It was a gift from Lee Ju-ho, who had gifted him the sports car after completing a
dungeon attack one day. As per Lee Ju-ho's words, Su-hyeun only added gas in and
took it out when he had to travel.
Screech—
Su-hyeun drove his sports car into a hillside at Yangpyeong, the mountain where Kim
Dae-ho's house was located. He drove it as deep as his car could go into the
mountains, parked it, and started walking in.
Clank, clank—!
The sound of steel could be heard without fail.
Su-hyeun wondered when he took his rests. It was hard to imagine how much he
loved hitting on steel.
"Uncle, I'm here."
Clank—!
The sound stopped.
Soon after, Kim Dae-ho trudged out to meet him.
"You're here?"
"Yes. It's today, right? Our promise."
"What do you mean promise? I only said that I would complete it before the year
ends."
"Doesn't that mean the same thing?"
"I had long completed it, kiddo. Come in immediately," Kim Dae-ho said and turned
around quickly. It wasn't to get the weapon, but instead, it was to guide him into the
house.
Su-hyeun was slightly surprised at Kim Dae-ho's reaction.
Kim Dae-ho never allowed strangers into his smithy. Being invited into his smithy
meant that he had a certain level of acknowledgment and friendship. Su-hyeun had
entered Kim Dae-ho's smithy once in his previous life, but it was only after they had
known each other for three years.
At the back of Kim Dae-ho's house was a smithy with a steel woven spherical ceiling.
As he entered the smithy through the door, various equipment was laid out.
<<It's been a while.>>
The high heat was almost cooking his flesh. If an awakener like him could barely
withstand that amount of heat, what about Kim Dae-ho?
He wasn't called a craftsman for nothing.
"Aren't you surprised?" Kim Dae-ho asked in a relatively small voice. It seemed that
he had expected a surprised reaction.
It was reasonable to be surprised at this amount of equipment.
"Ah, I am surprised."
"I know that you're not. How mean."
It seemed that he wasn't satisfied with Su-hyeun's reaction.
Su-hyeun laughed awkwardly and looked at the equipment hung on the walls:
swords, spears, armor, wrist guards, etc.
Amongst those, the first equipment that came into Su-hyeun's eyes was the swords.
<<As expected… They are quite superior.>>
There was a vast and minor difference in all the equipment; they all had ether stones
mixed in them.
Though it was tough to smelt ether stones, making use of that and creating weapons
like those were only made possible by certain craftsmen. In the current era, there
was no one better than Kim Dae-ho who could make equipment of this quality.
<<If all these were brought to the market…?>>
It could shake up the world quite a bit.
"What are you doing there? Stop looking at the junk and pick up your weapon now."
Junk.
It was too much to call this equipment junk.
But of course, the equipment placed by the entrance was what Kim Dae-ho had
regarded as failed creations. The successful ones were in the basement.
And…
"You might be quite surprised at it."
The weapon that Kim Dae-ho made for Su-hyeun was a masterpiece amongst them.
Su-hyeun followed Kim Dae-ho through the hall of the hot smithy.
At first, he wondered how Dae-ho could endure such heat, but now he was no longer
worried. Kim Dae-ho had developed a tolerance to the heat since he was a child.
More importantly, Su-hyeun wanted to see the sword that Kim Dae-ho had forged.
As they descended the staircase leading to the basement of the smithy, he could see
equipment hanging on the wall.
It was the true masterpiece that Kim Dae-ho had created.
<<This place is incredible no matter how many times I see it.>>
These weren't items that could be found in this generation.
This was equipment that could only be found in the future, after a long period of
countless research, advancement in crafting techniques, and smelting of the ether
stones.
Kim Dae-ho was already creating this kind of equipment at this time. He was indeed
both a master and a genius.
"Here, this is it."
Kim Dae-ho picked a sword off the wall and handed it to Su-hyeun.
It was a sword of the highest quality made with ether stone, and he had it hanging on
the wall.
An ordinary silver long sword. One couldn't really tell it was anything special by its
appearance alone.
Su-Hyeun held the sword handed to him by Kim Dae-ho. It was heavy.
It was definitely more massive than a regular sword, but it didn't feel that bad to Su-
hyeun.
"How is it? The weight is perfect, right?"
"Indeed, it is."
It wasn't the weight of an ordinary sword. However, it wasn't a weight that would be
considered heavy to the average awakener.
Instead, an appropriate weight was added to the power of the sword. It was a weight
that held the proper balance.
"The weight can be adjusted according to the melted ether stone on the sword. You
can make it weigh as heavy as a ton or as light as a feather. It's not really a good
function, but I made it so that you can adjust it to your preference so use it to your
liking."
"What else?"
"Per your request, I forged it so that it stays true to a sword's function and magic
conductivity, rather than the sword's overall use effect. The more powerful the user
of the sword, the higher the efficiency of the sword will be."
"Well, it's not that special."
"Yes, it's not special. However, it's perfect."
Shing—
Su-hyeun pulled the sword out from its sheath. The shining silver long sword
showed off its sleek blade and reflected Su-hyeun's face.
Slash—
Su-hyeun took the sword and slashed at the tip of his clothes. The blade just swished
through the fabric as if it were a blunt stick.
This time, he took another sword that he was carrying and threw it up in the air.
Swish— Slash—
Thud— Thud—
The sword that Su-hyeun swung lightly cut through the sword that he threw in the
air neatly in half.
As the halved sword fell to the ground, Su-hyeun commented, "Interesting."
It was as if the sword was alive.
Even without using magic, it was able to differentiate between what he was trying to
cut and what he wasn't. Furthermore, its sharpness and its degree of strength were
unbelievable as well. The level of sharpness could not be simply made from any
substance.
"A magical device…”
"Oh, can you tell?"
As Su-hyeun realized the true worth of the sword, Dae-ho Kim smiled brightly.
"Correct. No technique can form that degree of sharpness. So, as you requested, I
used the ether stone, which contains magical properties to form that extremely
sharp and firm blade."
"Did you base it off the principle of an electric saw?"
"You've got good eyes. Indeed. Rather than just being sharp, if you add the friction of
rotation, that power will be amplified. Of course, it can't be seen with the naked eye."
Su-hyeun was quite surprised.
His request was just for the shape and function of the sword to be accurate and
perfect to its basic form. It was because he thought that suited him better than a
sword needlessly plastered with skills. However, he never could imagine that the
sword's power and sharpness could be increased like this.
<<The method is remarkable, too, but the fact that it was made possible in and of
itself was incredible.>>
As expected, it was the right choice to ask Kim Dae-ho to create this. It had taken a
whole year, but the creation of a weapon of this degree was worth the wait.
"What is its name?"
Kim Dae-ho engraved a name on all his equipment. Of course, it was only for the
equipment that he deemed well made.
This sword was well worthy to receive a name. It definitely should have a name.
"It doesn't have one, twerp."
"It doesn't?"
What a surprising answer. Kim Dae-ho roughly scratched his head and spoke.
"It's your sword, so you name it. You're not a kid, so why are you expecting me to
name it, too?"
“…Is that okay?"
"What is?"
"You're not greedy for it? You made such a wonderful sword like this."
"What greed is there to speak of? Forget it. I'm satisfied that I could even have the
chance to forge a sword like this."
His chance to name the sword was now passed on to someone else. It might be
something troublesome and meaningless, but for Kim Dae-ho, it was a huge
concession.
Su-hyeun thought about the sword's name for a while. Instead of coming up with a
name by himself, he wanted to share it with Kim Dae-ho, who had spent one year to
painstakingly forge this sword.
Su-hyeun spoke after a while of thought.
"I'll name it Dragon Slaying Sword, Gram."

"Gram? Dragon Slaying Sword? What kind of rustic name is that?"
The name Balmung was also named by Su-hyeun in the past.
Gram was another name of Balmung, used in North Europe's mythology. They were
practically the same name.
But to Su-hyeun, above anything else, he did not want to give up on the title of a
dragon-slaying sword.
However, he did not want to reuse the name Balmung either. He thought that he
might fail again if he used the same name.
"Well, I was wondering if I might be able to slay a dragon with this sword someday."
At Su-hyeun's vague answer, Kim Dae-ho looked at him, speechless.
"Ha, what a cheesy kid."
No matter Dragon Slaying Sword or Gram, it was all the same embarrassing name to
Kim Dae-ho. Even so, Su-hyeun quite liked the name he had come up with. Su-hyeun
was not aware that his wits of coming up with names were decreasing.
"I have deposited the fees before coming here. Please confirm it."
Su-hyeun spoke while putting Gram back into its scabbard. Kim Dae-ho blinked in
surprise at the news which he had heard for the first time.
"Fees? What fees?"
"I had also sent a down payment. Didn't you see it?"
"What? Did you take me for a beggar, kid!" Kim Dae-ho jumped and shouted as if the
smithy was going away. To Kim Dae-ho, money was nothing but funds to make
materials to forge equipment.
"What else can I do when I have nothing else to give you? I don't want to hear from
others that I'm making use of you at this age."
"Nonsense! If you wanted to fund me, you should have given me some materials
instead of money. Aren't you an awakener, too?"
"Even so, wouldn't I be too shameless if I did that?"
"Forget it. I need the right materials instead of money. If you really want to thank me,
you should have gotten me those."
What he said was right.
A real reward should be what the other party needs most. To Kim Dae-ho, who
regards money similar to a stone, it might not be considered a bonus.
But…
<<If so, why didn't he take some of the equipment here to sell?>>
Kim Dae-ho only bought the ether stones and used them on forging equipment, but
did not sell them anywhere else.
He might have been quite wealthy thanks to his reputation as a craftsman now, but
his wealth would run out someday.
In fact, Kim Dae-ho had been struggling with cash since 2021. Knowing the truth, Su-
hyeun had deliberately deposited the money to him.
Buzz—
That moment, the smartphone in Su-hyeun's pocket rang. Kim Dae-ho, who was
hurling abusive language at Su-hyeun, stopped and waved his hand at him.
"Why should I be wasting my energy on you? Forget it. If there's nothing else, get
lost."
"Yes, Uncle. I'll be back again."
"If you have nothing else, don't you come to me!"
Kim Dae-ho still came out to send Su-hyeun off despite having said that. Indeed, he
was someone who acted differently from his words on a good note.
The vibrations which had continued for some time stopped. Su-hyeun quickly took
out the smartphone from his pocket and checked the missed calls list.
It was from Lee Ju-ho. As Su-hyeun returned the call, Lee Ju-ho picked it up
immediately.
"Hello?"
"What have you been doing recently?"
"I just got a weapon made. I'm about to head up to the 20th floor."
"I've heard about it. There is a huge commotion about it on Abyss Online now."
Did news travel this fast?
Somehow, there was no other faster source than online for people who loved writing.
Su-hyeun scratched his head and walked towards his car.
"But why are you looking for me? Is there another dungeon this time?"
"Yes. There's that, too, and I thought of having a meal with you sometime. I had just
cleared the 34th floor a while back."
"I could probably meet you for a meal but… I think it might be tough for another
dungeon attack."
"Is there anything wrong?"
"I think I'll enter the 20th-floor trial immediately."
Vroom—
Su-hyeun started the engine as soon as he got in the car.
"Let's meet up for a chat first."
Act 7
Su-hyeun drove his car towards a city near Yeongdeungpo in Seoul.

Su-hyeun and Lee Jun-ho met amidst the crowd. As it was dinner time, they went to a
restaurant with a private room and ordered food. The dinner table was soon filled
with Korean cuisine. As the door closed and their surroundings became quiet, Lee
Ju-ho spoke.
"Are you very busy?"
"I didn't want to push back any of my challenges."
The 20th floor was a special section.
As much as it was the most challenging trial, its rewards were the best. Su-hyeun
wanted to clear this section to the best of his potential.
"You seem to be in quite the hurry…”
Lee Ju-ho seemed to know Su-hyeun well. He felt that Su-hyeun was anxious.
"Is there anything wrong?"
"I have a favor to ask of you."
The reply that Lee Ju-ho got was different from his question, but Lee Ju-ho thought
that his reply had nothing to do with his question.
"What is it?"
"You have appeared a lot on the media recently, and even gotten more famous…”
"Recently, yes."
Since a year back, Lee Ju-ho had been ascending the tower taking on trials that were
more difficult than he usually handled. After it was found out by the public, Lee Ju-ho
was the center of attention for news related to awakeners. He was so-called the
'level-fluctuating' awakener.
Lee Ju-ho was already a B-rank awakener before the commotion. When taking into
consideration his level and the method he used to ascend the tower, it wasn't
something special for the media to pay attention to him.
"Can you possibly get in personal contact with the authorities?"
"If you mean authorities… Do you mean the higher-ups?"
Su-hyeun was referring to not purely the awakeners authority, but the higher-ups
that managed and operated the organization.
"It's not impossible, but…”
"Please convey a message to them."
"Just what is it about?"
"In the coming month or so…”
Su-hyeun started sharing his story.
When the story ended, Lee Ju-ho's expression was frozen in astonishment.
"Is that… true?"
"In all likelihood."
"How did you get to know about this?"
"From the gatekeeper on the 20th floor. Although I'm not exactly sure if the
gatekeeper is also in the know about the issues going around here but… it's worth
doubting."
Gatekeepers.
The residents who only resided on every 10th floor, who were known to have all the
information in the world.
They seemed to be all unrecognizable by their appearances, but at the very least,
their information had never been wrong.
Not even once.
Of course, even if the results were accurate, the process was false. This information
was not from the gatekeeper, but rather from Su-hyeun's personal experience.
"So that's why the number of dungeons appearing lately had been alarming…”
It was now 2021. The world had changed dramatically after 2020 had passed. The
number of awakeners increased, and the corresponding number of dungeons drew a
sharp upward curve.
The dungeons weren't solely a social issue but were turning into a huge problem.
Outbreaks were occurring more often since dungeon attacks aren't executed earlier.
Fortunately, there was no significant damage due to the swift action of nearby
awakeners, but it had become a severe problem.
"In the future, there will be an increase in dungeons appearing and dungeon
outbreaks. Although the number of awakeners is much higher than the dungeons
right now…”
"You're saying that the tables would turn later?"
"At least that's what I think would happen."
If it was according to Su-hyeun's words, the situation had gone beyond a severe level.
Lee Ju-ho was one who had several years of experience as an awakener. He drew up
the scene that Su-hyeun shared with him in his mind, where the number of dungeons
outnumbered the awakeners.
Lee Ju-ho's face turned blue in an instant. He put the chopsticks he had in his hand
down on the table.
“…It's over."
What if dungeons appeared all over the world, and all of those had outbreaks?
There would only be one result. The end of the world.
<<It's a relief that he understood.>>
When Su-hyeun brought up the story, he had wondered if Lee Ju-ho would ignore his
words. As the proportion of dungeons to outbreaks increased, it had become a social
problem.
That's probably why Lee Ju-ho could not ignore his words. Furthermore, if assuming
what Su-hyeun said was true…
"If that's the case, this isn't favorable at all. Of course, I'll help."
"Thank you."
It was a relief.
If Lee Ju-ho's negotiations with the authorities were successful, this issue could be
solved without much trouble.
However, the problem was that unlike Su-hyeun, who knew how the future went, no
one could be certain what decision the authorities would make.
<>
The case was only a gamble of probability to a certain extent. It was up to him to
prepare in case the gamble failed. The preparation was something which he had on
his mind for quite some time.
"But… It's certainly coincidental."
"What are you talking about?"
"The period which you mentioned. It coincides with the green level dungeon attack
that appeared at Ansan."
It was sporadic for a green level dungeon to appear.
Not only did such dungeons require A-rank awakeners, depending on the situation,
they might also need help from S-rank awakeners.
If the outbreak occurred in such dungeons, the whole city would be in immediate
danger, forcing the nation and the Awakeners Authority to focus entirely on the
green level dungeons.
In other words, it was also the period where Seoul and Gyeonggi province would
have a lack of manpower.
"In fact, I had thought of going there if I couldn't get to go on the dungeon attack with
you…”
It's not a good thing to say after hearing those words.
"Haa— It's complicated."
Even so, he couldn't leave the green level dungeon alone. If there was an outbreak in
the green level dungeon, it would also become a great danger to the city.
"Please don't expect too much. It's because it's me — that's why I believed it but isn't
it quite a groundless story?"
"I got it. I'll make my preparations separately."
Right now, there was a limit to what Su-hyeun and Lee Ju-ho could do, so they could
only do their best within their boundaries.
<<As soon as the meal is over… >>
Su-hyeun once again concentrated on his meal and continued his train of thoughts.
<<I'm going to challenge the next floor.>>
They soon finished their meal.
Lee Ju-ho felt that he could not hold back Su-hyeun for long. He too had to challenge
the next floor's trial and also had to help Su-hyeun with his favor.
Su-hyeun thought over for a moment if he should head back home. It had been a
while since he saw Shin Soo-yeong's face, too.
<<She should be fine.>>
Instead, it might be better for her to think that Su-hyeun was still focused and
working hard on ascending the tower. However, he thought that a call would be
alright.
Ring—
Su-hyeun called Shin Soo-yeong.
"Hello?"
Though he hadn't heard her voice for some time, she sounded urgent. She must have
been busy on the other line.
"Oh, mom. What are you doing?"
"I've been busy for a while with the guests. Your call came at a good time. I was just
about to take a break from the guests who just left."
Shin Soo-yeong had set up her own store. After selling gold for more than a decade,
Su-hyeun presented her with a jewelry shop. After setting up her own shop, she did
not stop working for a moment. Her shop was quite prosperous, perhaps because of
her volubility and ability.
"Are you done with your work? I haven't heard from you in a while."
Su-hyeun left the house after getting a small studio. He thought that if he continued
to stay with Shin Soo-yeong, he would still be concerned about her. Shin Soo-yeong,
too, was more than ready to allow Su-hyeun to become independent.
Still, Su-hyeun still occasionally took time out to spend with her, but of course, he
hadn't had the time to do it recently.
"Yes, it just ended. But I think I'll have to start on another now."
"Right away? Wouldn't it be tough?"
<<Wouldn't it be tough?>> It was the most common question from her. It was only
asked by Shin Soo-yeong. Although he knew she was worried, Su-hyeun liked
hearing it.
"It's all right. I'm not hurt anywhere. People say that I'm a genius. Though I've said it
before, I think I'm well-suited for this job."
It wasn't a lie. In fact, various communities, including Abyss Online, and other
countless awakeners, called Su-hyeun a genius and a divinity. Of course, only one of
them, Lee Ju-ho, knew Su-hyeun's face.
"Son, don't you think you're too proud of yourself? Karma will get at you for being
too conceited."
"I know. Don't worry."
"How can a mom not be worried about her son? Oh, I have a customer. Son, let's talk
again!"
"Okay. Take care."
And with that, Su-hyeun ended the call.
Vroom—
Su-hyeun drove back in a hurry. He soon arrived at a relatively tall studio apartment
building. Su-hyeun was done for the day. He got a new sword, Gram, and met Lee Ju-
ho to convey the story. He also had a brief talk with Shin Soo-yeong.
<<In the coming month… >
December 31, 2020.
There was only one month left. During that time, Su-hyeun had no intention of
staying idle.
All preparations are complete.
The 20th floor.
The ordeal on that floor was bound to be tense.
"Let's go."
As usual, he muttered to himself and stretched his hand forward.

Rip—
The door opened to the other world.
Su-hyeun's feet stepped forward.
Amid the freezing cold, Su-hyeun moved his feet.
When he breathed out, cold air came out from his mouth. While looking at the cold
air from his mouth, Su-hyeun walked towards the portal.
A middle-aged beggar sat crouched in front of a gigantic portal that was filled with
magic. A familiar vibe came off from the middle-aged man. He felt somewhat similar
to the gatekeeper who resided on the 10th floor.
"Are you asleep?"
"Hmm? Ah, um…”
The gatekeeper, who was crouched, raised his head at Su-hyeun's call. The
gatekeeper, who had been yawning, rubbed his eyes with one hand.
"Why? What is it, you called me?"
"If you're tired, I'll just go."
"No, I'm not tired. More than that…” The gatekeeper extended a friendly hand to Su-
hyeun.
"Money."
Most of the gatekeepers' habits were similar. There was no difference seeing how
they were usually crouched and dozing off all day, or asking for money the moment
they wake up.
Just what is it with them that they keep asking for money without fail? The
achievement points they have had earned so far would be astronomical.
"How much do you want?"
At Su-hyeun's question, the gatekeeper stared at Su-hyeun's face. The gatekeeper,

who had been looking at Su-hyeun's face for a while, sighed quietly and said.
"You, you're a freak."
"If that's the case, I'm well aware of that."
"I'll need to get a little more from you. 100,000."
It was enough to be a jaw-dropping price if others heard of this.
100,000 achievement points was an amount that would take some awakeners their
entire lifetime to collect, and they might even barely gather enough.
Su-hyeun, however, paid the amount without hesitation. The achievement points
were transferred when he put his hand into the gatekeepers'.
[100,000 achievement points consumed.]
The gatekeeper looked at Su-hyeun with a distant look, as if he was contemplating.
"Huh, Euhuhuhuh!"
He grinned widely with his expressionless face and laughed out loud. The
gatekeeper, who had been laughing for quite some time, placed his extended hand
into his pocket and said.
"The freak is real. So, what do you want?"
"What do you think is waiting for me?"
"The question is too vague."
"What should I be careful of?"
"None."
"What?"
"There's nothing for you to watch out for. You're not going to die."
It was a good thing.
There was nothing to watch out for and nothing to die from, which meant there was
less danger.
It was good news if he could have his risks reduced while ascending the tower.
But that didn't mean that Su-hyeun was pleased with what the gatekeeper said.
"Is that it?"
Lesser risks had also meant fewer rewards. Moreover, he had readily paid 100,000
achievement points, so how could he only have this much advice? He felt that he had
gotten the short end of the stick.
"Don't worry. I'm not frying."
Where did he learn that phrase?
"Someone said this a while back. I took his money and ran away. Haha, it was his
fault for not understanding the hint."
"So there's another hint?"
"It's not you who should be careful, but the others. And if possible… Don't kill
anyone."
"What do you mean don't kill anyone?"
"That's all for the hints. Now, get lost."
The gatekeeper waved his hand and started dozing off after getting back in his
crouched position. It was an ambiguous hint.
<<Although the gatekeepers are always like this… >>
Hints for level 10 trials were always like this. As expected, the hints Su-hyeun got
from the 10th floor were vague, too.
<<But they have never been wrong.>>
At least the hints given by the gatekeepers have never been wrong. Their hints had
always been the keywords to the right answers.
Sometimes Su-hyeun wondered what kind of people they were before. Su-hyeun
bowed slightly to the gatekeeper and walked towards the portal.
As he stood on the portal, a message appeared.
[Kim Su-hyeun, will you start the trial now?]
Su-hyeun nodded.
"Let's start."
[Please select the difficulty.]
[Level 1~10.]
[The higher the level, the more difficult it becomes. The higher the level, the higher
the reward of the trial.]
They were different floors, but the question itself was the same every time.
"Level 10."
He answered with the same words as usual.
Immediately after making the decision, the trial's scene appeared in front of Su-
hyeun's eyes.
[The 20th floor's level 10 trial starts now.]
What appeared in front of Su-hyeun was a massive castle wall and numerous
soldiers spread out below it. The soldiers, standing close together like ants, looked
down from the top of the wall. Just by looking at them, Su-hyeun knew what he had
to do.
<<Is it a siege?>>
But it was strange. No matter how he saw it, there was no one but himself around.
Unlike the thousands of soldiers below, he was alone.
[The trial starts now.]
[Recently, thousands of soldiers and mercenaries are guarding the impenetrable

fortress, the kingdom Gran Dalum. It is your responsibility to use all methods to take
down the fort.]
[Take down the castle. There is no limit to what methods can be used. You may
recruit allies within the arena.]
[But please remember: you are not their enemy.]
[You have a month to complete this.]
[You will fail this trial if you die or exceed the given time limit.]
[Please take down the fort.]
[Dig up the castle's secrets.]
[The rewards will differ according to the results of the trial.]
The mission's contents were quite lengthy. Through the contents, Su-hyeun was able
to infer some facts.
<<This isn't a normal castle.>>
Firstly, the aim to "dig up the castle's secrets" was clearly written, which meant
solely taking down the castle was not the only objective.
Furthermore, he was told that the soldiers and mercenaries were not Su-hyeun's
enemies. Looking at this, he could understand the gatekeeper's hint.
<<To not kill anyone… >>
But why? Why would the citizens' lives dictate the rewards?
The Tower's system did not deem humans' lives to be that important. There were
usually missions to kill, but missions to save were rare. To Su-hyeun's knowledge,
there wasn't any mission that stops one from killing the enemy just to let them
realize how precious life was.
<<Moreover, since it said that they are not enemies… >>
Su-hyeun looked up at the castle and scratched his head.
"This is difficult."
One could have come up with many assumptions based on their own thoughts. But
Su-hyeun could never find out anything by just standing there.
Su-hyeun closed his eyes and amplified the radius of his magic as far as possible. The
magic was spread over the soldiers and mercenaries. With that, Su-hyeun was able
to clearly feel each and everyone's feelings.
<<Most of them deal with magic.>>
Most of the mercenaries were around the standards of a C-rank awakener. The other
soldiers were quite well-trained as well.
It was by no means easy to take down the steep walls and thick iron gates that were
guarded by thousands of soldiers. Furthermore, according to the gatekeeper's words,
Su-hyeun could not even kill them.
<<What's with this difficulty?>>

The trial's difficulty suddenly skyrocketed exponentially.
How should he clear the trial? Others would definitely have this thought on their
minds if it was them, as missions of that standard should never have appeared on
20th-floor trials.
Of course, that would be the case for other awakeners. It might be an impossible trial
for other awakeners who ascended the Tower in the usual way up to the 20th floor,
but it wasn't the case for Su-hyeun.
<<A month.>>
The time coincided nicely. Su-hyeun had aimed to clear this floor within a month as
well. He thought he knew why he was given a time frame of a month.
Amongst the mission's contents, the hint said, "You can form allies."
Perhaps during that month in that world, Su-hyeun might have to go through a
complicated process such as meeting someone from that castle and having a hostile
relationship with them.
But…
"With a time limit of one month…”
Trudge—
Su-hyeun started walking towards the castle's wall.
"It's too long."
That process should be omitted. It was too troublesome, and it didn't match his
personality. Moreover, he didn't feel the need to go through with it. It was something
that he had to face head-on now.
Su-hyeun felt that it would be sufficient for him to do it on his own.
The gigantic castle, which was a few hundred meters tall, could be seen from farther
away.
Su-hyeun approached it slowly without hurry, with the thought that he had ample
time. Every time the distance between him and the castle narrowed, he could sense
something from within the castle.
Another reason why Su-hyeun ambled towards the castle was to observe the
reactions of those guarding it.
"Stop!"
As the distance narrowed to a certain length, mutters could be heard from the top of
the castle.
Su-hyeun was unsure if magical effects were used, but the voice was different. A
small amount of magic could be felt, as well.
Su-hyeun stopped in his tracks and looked upwards. Soon, he could hear the voice
again.
"You can't come any nearer. Turn around!"
It was a pressurizing voice.
Su-hyeun looked at the owner of the voice distinctly. Although the distance was far,
he concentrated magic on his eyes and allowed him to see the other party
distinctively.
"Sorry, but can't I stay over for a few days?"
"No! This place isn't for ordinary people…”
The man who was responding to Su-hyeun stopped talking when he realized that
something was amiss. How could such a small voice be heard that clearly when there
was a considerable distance between them? It was impossible unless he had pretty
good magic control.
"You. What are you?"
"I'm just a passer-by… I wanted to borrow your castle for a while." Su-hyeun started
walking once more. "So, all of you please come out of the castle."
"This crazy man!"
A commotion arose at the top of the castle.
It seemed that they had now recognized Su-hyeun as their enemy.
They shouldn't have felt threatened when only one person was walking towards
their castle, but after they realized how good Su-hyeun's magic control was, they
seemed to become defensive.
Of course, Su-hyeun would not feel scared with just that.
"Now, let's…”
As soon as Su-hyeun realized the other party was prepared to fight, he took out the
sword, Gram, which was hung by his hip.
"It finally commenced."
Clink—
With Su-hyeun's magic, Gram produced a low sound.
Numerous arrows shot out from within the castle, with the arrowheads aimed
towards Su-hyeun. Su-hyeun then stepped forward, giving strength to his step.
Spat—
A big leap brought Su-hyeun's body up into the air. With another big leap, Su-hyeun
flew even further up tens of meters instantaneously.
"Shoot!"
The man who seemed like a commander did not fluster and gave out his order.
Someone with skills similar to Su-hyeun's probably existed amongst them as well.
Slick, slick—
Phewwwww—
Hundreds and thousands of arrows were shot over Su-hyeun's head.
The mercenaries' archery skills were quite excellent. Even with a long distance
between them, the arrows were aimed quite accurately at Su-hyeun.
Burning—
Flame shot out from the sword that Su-hyeun was brandishing, making the arrows
from over his head pour down. At the same time, Su-hyeun vanished from that
position.
Su-hyeun's clone attracted everyone's attention in an instant when it arrived near

the gate. Only a minority could capture such instantaneous movements without
missing.
"Over there!"
But even that wasn't good enough because Su-hyeun had already arrived in front of
the gates.
"I'll break it in one go."
Woong—
Su-hyeun injected magic into Gram.
With the highest strength and length, as well as an unbelievable sharpness, Gram
was a sword optimized for cutting things.
No matter how sturdy or impenetrable the gate was, Gram could still cut through it.
Grip—
Su-hyeun grasped Gram with all his might.
The gate's thickness exceeded the sword's length by multiple folds. But even so, Su-
hyeun never thought that he would not be able to cut through the gate.
A tremendous amount of magic enveloped Gram and increased its length.
The sharpness of Gram's blade was due to the rotating friction by the extremely fine
magic. Su-hyeun increased the maximum range of that rotation and forced it to
increase its speed as well. Gram's range and power had doubled.
Although quite a substantial amount of magic had been used…
"Good."
It should be enough.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Su-hyeun brandished his sword as he approached closer to the gate.
The sword didn't seem like it had cut through anything. The gate made of sturdy iron
had been cut like soft tofu.
Clash, clash—
The slashed gate fell to the ground. It was destroyed to the extent that it was beyond
restoration.
"T-the gate is broken!" Someone called out from the top of the castle.
Su-hyeun muttered as he drew in deep breaths after having used up such a

tremendous amount of magic in a short time.
"It's not broken, but…”
As if they were instructed to meet Su-hyeun, numerous soldiers appeared from

behind the gate.
"It's been cut."
Su-hyeun was now certain after having used it.
Gram was the best sword.

Act 8
At Su-hyeun's request, Lee Ju-ho went to the nearest Awakener's Authorities at City
Hall. Several of the nation's awakeners were waiting in the building. Additionally,
politicians who were managing the awakeners had their offices in the higher levels.
Lee Ju-ho presented his awakener's registration card and headed up to the higher
level floors of the building. A few awakeners who recognized him greeted him.
"Oh, isn't this Lee Ju-ho? What brings you here?"
Along the corridor, Lee Ju-ho bumped into one of the high ranking members of the
authorities who also the nation's A-rank awakener, Kim Do-ui. As they were quite
acquainted after having met a couple of times before, Lee Ju-ho greeted him and said,
"I have something to attend to. Is Director Lee in?"
"Yes, he should be in. I don't think he has any appointments today."
"Is that so? That's great."
"You needed to see the Director? Shall we go together?"
"There's really no need…”
"I actually have something to tell him about the green level dungeon attack that
happened recently. Let's go together."
Lee Ju-ho finally nodded and agreed after agonizing for a while how Kim Do-ui
joining him would work out. He thought Kim Do-ui might be able to assist in
persuading the Director.
"If so, let's go then."
Lee Ju-ho and Kim Do-ui headed towards the Director's room.
The Director who oversaw the Awakeners Accreditation Authority and managed the
nation's awakeners was an old man well over his 60s.
He had a face filled with dark pigmentation and droopy eyes, with an unreadable
expression. Formerly a presidential candidate, he was the highest-ranking council
member managing the authorities and all the nation's awakeners.
"Director, you have guests."
Kim Do-ui, who had been serving the Director for a long time, treated him quite
comfortably. The Director quickly glanced at Lee Ju-ho and returned to reviewing his
documents, and asked, "What is it?"
Lee Ju-ho didn't seem to be of any importance to him. Lee Ju-ho, who had known
well of the Director's personality, spoke without getting flustered.
"I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?"
"Yes. It is related to the safety of the citizens."
The citizens' safety. It was a problem that the Director of the Awakener's Authority
had to deal with in the highest priority. It was a subject important enough to draw
the Director's attention.
"The citizens' safety…”
The Director's attention returned to Lee Ju-ho once again.
"Come, let's hear about it."
Done.
As he met the fastidious Director, he let out some bait that could possibly provide
him more time to talk.
Lee Ju-ho felt relieved and started to relay Su-hyeun's words.
"Now that I've met the Director, firstly…”

Caw, caw—!
Late in the night, a strange-looking bird cried out in the forest. Looking closely, it
might cry similar to a crow but looked like a dove's mixed breed as well.
Whatever it was, Su-hyeun stood up from where he sat. He could see a castle
standing tall in the distance.
'This is enough for a break… '
He had used up quite a bit of magic after crushing that gate.
Immediately after, Su-hyeun chose to retreat. He decided that it was not wise to
barge into the castle without knowing anything.
"Now is a perfect time."
The sky grew darker as it went deeper into the night.
Even if he started a fire, the fear emitted from the darkness was unavoidable.
Of course, that fear was an exception for him. Su-hyeun had experienced a dark
world with no sun in the far future.
He had no idea where the enemy would be.
The gate was crushed, and it would be unsure when would one be stabbed in the
back.
Now was the best time.
'Of course… '
Crack!
Su-hyeun picked up a thick tree branch nearby and broke it into half.
'I won't head back.'
As he took each step, he headed towards the castle.
If possible, he wanted to clear the trial within one night.
Grandalum's commander, Maxman, stayed awake and stood guard on the castle top.
It was the same for the other soldiers. Even if they were exhausted, they could not
sleep a wink and waited all day for the intruder.
'What the hell is that intruder doing?'
Maxman recalled the stranger who crushed the gate.
He had thought the man who first approached the castle was strange.
They were up against the Kingdom of Audram, not individuals.
But that individual had achieved what the Kingdom of Audram could not. That
person took down Grandalum's iron castle gate.
'Just what is he, that weirdo.'
That same thought kept echoing in his mind.
He had his doubts about the other party. Maxman might have probably seen
hallucinations.
But when he saw the smashed iron gate, that thought had gone away.
Even if there was a castle wall several hundred meters tall, there was no use for the
gate that had been taken down.
Repairing the castle gate would've taken a long time. If the Kingdom of Audram
attacked them at a time like that…
'No, that's not it.'
It wasn't the Kingdom of Audram; that was their only problem.
What if that kid from earlier today came attacking them again?
"Damn it."
Precarious thoughts continued to ensue and tangle.
At that moment…
"What kept you so focused on?"
A gloomy voice spoke up from behind Maxman.
Maxman turned his head around and looked at the person.
It was a guest from the center of the Kingdom with his face hidden by a black robe.
Accompanying him was his superior, the newly appointed chief.
Nobody even knew his name.
But as per orders from the higher-ups, Maxman had no other choice but to treat him
as his superior.
"I was worried about the gate being crushed."
"Was it because of the kid from earlier today?"
"Yes. I was worried that the kid would come at us again."
Maxman let out a long and deep sigh as he shared his worries.
"Honestly, as soon as the gate was taken down, it became tough to even protect the
castle. It would be better to call the soldiers back and protect the next fort…”
"That won't do."
The robed man cut off Maxman's words and spoke firmly.
"I'd rather all of us die here than do that."
“…What?"
Did he mishear the robed man?
For a moment, Maxman had doubted his hearing.
No matter how obstinate a person is, no commander had ever told his soldiers to die
so readily, even if it was his thoughts.
However, the man in front of him said without hesitation that he would rather die
than run away.
It was a difficult situation for Maxman, who had been on the battlefield for several
years.
The robed man continued speaking without acknowledging Maxman's reaction.
"Please hold out by all means, without letting it become a reality. You only need to do
so for the coming month."
"A month… Is there any point in waiting for a month?"
"Yes, there is."
Just what significance did it have?
It was a period that Maxman, the commander of the soldiers, could not understand.
Did it mean that they would be receiving a substantial helping hand after a month?
Though he was filled with curiosity, the robed man turned around, seemingly having
no intentions to explain further.
"Just hold out for a month. That's all."
Before he left after leaving those words, he did not forget his last words of cruelty.
"Hold out even if it costs all the lives of the soldiers in this castle."
“…Yes. I got it."
Maxman bit his lips, almost tearing them.
That was one example of how the battlefield was unreasonable.
As it was his superior's orders, he was obliged to carry it out no matter how unfair it
was.
Thinking objectively, it was right to make their escape to save the lives of their
soldiers.
However, he could not disobey the direct orders from his superior, the robed man
who held the nameplate that was given directly from the Kingdom's court. Doing so
would have been considered treason.
'It would be better if it was just me defying orders… '
If he ignored what the robed man said, what would happen if he had the soldiers
retreat?
He might be accused of treason and executed, but wouldn't he have saved the
soldiers?
Or would the soldiers be accused of committing treason as well?
If that's not the case…
"It's the enemy!"
Just then, a soldier's cry interrupted his thoughts.
Maxman quickly shifted his gaze to the bottom of the castle.
The guy from earlier that day was walking towards them.
"Being welcomed like this doesn't feel that bad."

Su-hyeun looked up at the numerous soldiers who were waiting for him at the top of
the castle.
It seemed that the numbers had increased as compared to the day. They seemed to
be waiting for him, unable to sleep in that panic situation.
Flick, flick!
He lightly swung the tree branch in his hand.
It was a weak tree branch that could break anytime, it did not produce a massive
sound.
'Replace the lacking strength with magic… '
Crack, crack!
He filled the empty insides of the tree branch with magic.
This would've been enough.
'It would be better to kill; it's so bothersome to subdue them".
He needed to be careful to avoid killing any of them or losing control of his strength.
It was a tricky mission.
Numerous arrows with sharpened arrowheads were aimed at him.
It seemed that they have finished all the preparations.
When the gate was wide open, the arrows would've been pointless; they would
never be able to hit him.
'Let's go.'
He finished taking a deep breath and started moving.
Spat!
Su-hyeun's body ran forward towards the wide-open gate.

That action flustered the soldiers who were at the top of the castle aiming their
arrows at him.
"What?! How is he so fast?!"
"I can't aim at him!"
"Calm down and prevent him from entering the castle!"
"No, don't waste the arrows! You can't hit him!"
The soldiers shouted, scared out of their wits.
As the commander, Maxman used his magic and shouted.
"Forget about the arrows and block out the gate! Prevent that guy from entering!"
After going through several hardships for a long time, the soldiers' trust in Maxman
was as strong as a sturdy castle. At Maxman's command, the soldiers moved entirely
in unison.
'That's the commander.'
Su-hyeun knew that Maxman was the commander, whom he had spotted earlier in
the day.
'I'll go after him first.'
However, before that…
Slash!
Hundreds of soldiers appeared, blocking out Su-hyeun's vision.
Holding spears and swords in their hands, they showed intense hostility towards Su-
Hyeun.
He had to fight all these soldiers and subdue them without killing any of them.
"Kill him!"
"Prevent him from entering the castle!"
The soldiers started to run towards Su-Hyeun.
They should have known that they are no match for him, yet they were courageous
enough to hunt him down. They must have seen Su-Hyeun's ability when he
destroyed the gate earlier that day.
Worst of all, it was quite a pain when he couldn't kill them but instead let them off.
'How annoying.'
Slash!
Pierce—!
The tree branch, which was held in Su-hyeun's hand, struck the soldier's neck, who
was running head-on towards Su-hyeun.
The soldier's body fell onto the ground, with his eyes rolling backward. It seemed
that his neck did not break thanks to the sturdy armor.
"Even so, they aren't too much trouble to deal with."
Stab, stab, stab, stab!
The tree branch in Su-hyeun's hand accurately hit every soldier in their necks.
There were only these three points to consider: moderate strength control, accuracy,
and evasiveness. If there was one more thing, it would've been Su-hyeun's
unexhaustive stamina.
"If I were to fight with these dwarves, this fight might continue for four days…”
Flick!
Pierce, pierce!
Several invisible blades came flying towards Su-hyeun.

The wind passed, ticking Su-hyeun's skin. Thankfully he quickly used magic to
protect his body. Otherwise, there would've been several cuts made on his body.
"Well, was I too ambitious?"
Su-hyeun hid behind the soldiers and observed the mercenaries who had their hands
stretched out forward.
The mercenaries who dealt with magic became a problem.
There's no knowing how many skilled mercenaries were in the castle.
'Could I subdue all of them? No, if not… '
Just as when Su-hyeun stopped all his movements and stood silently:
"Wind Cutter!"
"Fire Stone!"
"Ice…”
Swish, swish!
Clank!
Magic fired at Su-hyeun caused a massive explosion. A faint smoke rose around Su-
hyeun as he was hit by multiple magic attacks head-on.
"Done!"
"Well, that was no big deal…”
The men who gave out the magic attacks started cheering, but their faces soon
hardened.
Su-hyeun trudged out from the thick fog around him. He remained safe from all
attacks without sustaining any injuries.
"H-how?"
"He's not injured at all…”
"On top of that, shouldn't there at least be a speck of dust on him?"
Although they voiced out their unjust, the result remained unchanged.
Soon, another round of magic attacks was shot at Su-hyeun. A massive explosion, a
sharp blade, and a spear flew and pierced through his body.
It was pointless.
'Force through the front.'
['Indomitable Body' was activated.]
[It increases magical and physical resistance by continuously consuming mana for a
specified period.]
It was a rare skill which Su-hyeun had obtained as a reward when he cleared the
17th floor's trial.
Su-hyeun thought it could've granted him an extra life to be used in emergencies.
Although he didn't need to use the skill often since there were few life-threatening
situations, it was quite useful in his current situation.
He couldn't kill off the enemies, but it was troublesome to even subdue each of them.
The magic that each of them released was bothersome too.
If so, ignoring them would be the end of it.
'What I wanted wasn't their lives, but to take down the castle.'
To take down the castle…
There were a few loopholes and ambiguities in the conditions of passing the trial.
Firstly, the standard for taking down the castle was not clear. All the soldiers present
weren't enemies, but he couldn't know under what conditions would it consider the
castle to be taken down.
Secondly, he did not know the reason why he wasn't allowed to kill them. The Tower
of Trials would not have cared less about respecting lives.
Moreover…
'Something smells fishy.'
Clank, clank!
Flash!
Su-hyeun received the magic attacks with his body and swept away the fog was
covering his vision.
'The smell of a bad-tempered guy.'
Su-hyeun's eyes searched for someone located from within the castle.
He extended the range of his magic and found a human with a different kind of
energy.
A man covered deeply in a black robe…
No, it had to be Lich.

Flick!
Clank, clank!
Pierce, pierce!
A relatively sharp Ice Spear flew over and exploded in front of him.
Su-hyeun brought his hand up and blocked his face from the debris. During that
short time, all signs of the Lich had vanished.
It seemed that it had become aware of Su-hyeun and escaped.
Su-hyeun raised his head again.
'He didn't seem to be half as good as the previous one… '
It was a different Lich than the one that appeared as the dungeon's boss in the level-
fluctuating dungeon.
Different from the summoner Lich, who had imperfect vitality and power, the Lich
here was the real deal.
'A Lich on the 20th floor… '
The level of difficulty increased the further he ascended.
The existence of Lich could've brought about many variables.
The Lich was a monster that was very knowledgeable about magic. According to
their level of magical knowledge, a Lich could do a variety of things.
The Lich could not be seen as a boss on the 20th-floor's trial.
Instead, the 19th-floor's ancient monster was a more demanding opponent.

If so…
'A certain situation that the Lich is trying to make… '
That would be the primary key to the trial.
'Good. End of thinking.'
Sweep!
Su-hyeun's body disappeared from the spot as if he had sunk.
The mercenaries releasing magic attacks at Su-hyeun were caught by surprise and
shouted, "He… he disappeared!"
"Find him!"
Though they searched the area, Su-hyeun was nowhere to be found.
[Shadow Assimilation.]
Sweep!
Su-hyeun reappeared under a bronze statue located in the distance.
At the back, the soldiers were still busy searching for Su-hyeun, unaware that he had
already entered the castle.
'It takes a while to manifest.'
'Shadow Assimilation' was a skill that was obtained in the case of infiltration. It was
purchased on the 15th floor with a considerable amount of achievement points.
It was commonly used by awakeners of the assassin class, where it gave one the
ability to move with a specific shadow in sight.
It was quite a useful transportation skill.
One needed to use a shadow larger than the user himself. Although the shadow
needed to be within sight, a penalty like that was not much of a problem for a spatial
skill.
The problem was its manifest period.
As it was a spatial skill, the difficulty level increased, leading to an extended manifest
period.
'Should I have increased my skill proficiency level?'
It would have been a pain to do that.
To a certain extent, the skill was only obtained for infiltrations like this, not a skill
that could be used frequently.
It was better to increase the skill proficiency of other skills instead.
'Anyway, I should have gone far enough… '
He hid behind the bronze statue and observed the soldiers searching for him.
Thankfully, they were not able to spot him. Before Su-hyeun got caught, it was better
for him to go deeper.
[Shadow Assimilation.]
Su-hyeun soon spotted another shadow in sight.
From a distance, he used the shadow he saw to utilize the Shadow Assimilation skill.
With that, Su-hyeun succeeded in infiltrating the castle.
The castle was empty.
It seemed that most of the soldiers were sent out to prevent him from entering.
Although Su-hyeun had succeeded in infiltrating, the castle was dead silent as if the
soldiers didn't think that he had entered the castle.
'There's nothing special… '
Trudge.
'Must I go in further?'
The scale of the castle was relatively massive.
It was hard to even look around the castle in a day. It was nearly impossible to just
observe this place alone.
'If so… '
Su-hyeun lowered his head and looked at the ground.
"Well, those with something up their sleeves usually liked the underground more.'
Slung!
Su-hyeun hung the tree branch held in his hand on his back and took out Gram.
And…
Burn!
The flame lit up, and Su-hyeun held on to Gram in the opposite direction. Holding the
sword's handle with both hands, he directed it towards the ground.
Poke!
Burn!
The fallen sword made the interior of the castle hot with the flame. Cracking sounds
were heard as the castle walls and floors started to crack apart.
Crack, crack!
Rumble!
The corridor where Su-hyeun stood at started to crumble.

'Regardless of whether the castle falls or not, what does it matter to me.'
There was a shortcut downwards; he didn't need to find his way around.
Crumble!
The floor of the castle crumbled, rumbling loudly. Su-hyeun grabbed onto the walls
and fell along slowly.
Looking down, he spotted nearly pitch-black energy.
No, he had felt it.
"Bingo."
Thinking that it was not an ordinary castle, he believed that something was hidden
in there.
He had been worried that it would be concealed in a complicated way, but it didn't
seem so after he managed to find it so easily.
'Indeed, it was easier to act instead of thinking about it.'
In truth, it was better to have used both brains and body to execute, instead of just
relying on either one.
Of course, that didn't mean Su-hyeun wasn't a clever thinker.
Slick!
Su-hyeun threw himself down. Since he was now sure there was something beneath,
there was no need for hesitation.
Pierce, pierce!
Swoosh!
At that moment, black stems shot out towards Su-hyeun as he fell.
Su-hyeun leaped upwards reflexively. He then injected flame into his sword and sent
it downwards.
Bang, bang!
Burn!
As the flame hit the stems, both had been wiped out. Su-hyeun climbed along the
undamaged corridor and looked in the direction where the energy came from.
"I had thought some rat came along, but it was the kid from earlier."
A husky voice rang out.
But it wasn't like Lich's, where it was fully split.
It was using voice modulation magic.
"What were you doing here?"
Su-hyeun wanted to obtain some hints from him.
Su-hyeun had already learned that the castle was intertwined with the Lich.
However, there was no knowing what the Lich would've done there.
If possible, Su-hyeun was hoping that the Lich would be a tell-tale.
"Why would I tell that to someone who would soon become a dead man?"
"If our aims are the same, wouldn't it be better if we cooperated?"
The Lich started to gather magic in its hands, but Su-hyeun re-directed the topic.
These words used to work quite well.
Either way, they only worked towards their motives. If someone as strong as them
were to cooperate with them, they would have considered it.
However…
"I don't trust you."

Lich's reaction was firm.
"Why is that so?"
"The energy that you're using."
Lich took off its hood revealing its face and pointed at Su-hyeun.
"It was the energy that would become our enemy."
“…Ah, is that so?"
The flame was the problem.
The flame's nature was similar to light and fire, which conflicted with the Lich's
energy. Just as light and dark didn't go together, the Lich despised Su-hyeun.
"Well, what a shame."
Burn!
Su-hyeun raised the flame that Lich had despised onto his whole body.
The castle was soon heated up. With that power, Lich backed away with black magic
wrapped around him.
"If so, I would have to finish you off first slowly…”
As he talked to Lich, Su-hyeun did not approach but instead turned his head away.
At that moment, the Lich who backed down while being pressured by Su-hyeun's
magic stepped forward again.
"Did you think that I would be alone?"
Slide, slide!
Underneath, three more robed men appeared in the endless underground.
Su-hyeun put up a perplexed expression, as he felt the same kind of magic from them
as well.
'Things are getting complicated.'
There wasn't just one Lich there.
Crumble, crumble!
The castle shook again.
The heat filled up the hall. Maxman stopped commanding his soldiers and stopped in
his tracks.
"This… What…”
The intruder had entered the castle.
His existence was enough to overwhelm thousands of his soldiers. With a single
blow, he could've cut down the iron gate to their fortress and resisted the magic
attacks from dozens of his mercenaries.
He was a monster.
Although Maxman had been on the battlefields for decades, he had never seen a
monster like that intruder.
Thus, Maxman had to stop him. If such an intruder was in the castle, none of them
could sleep a wink.
However…
'Is the intruder an enemy?'
Maxman was surprised at the quick brief on the damage report by his soldiers.
There were no dead soldiers.
Come to think of it, the intruder did not hold a sword in his hands. Instead of a
sword, he held a tree branch he had picked up somewhere.
Of course, the intruder could have killed the soldiers with just a single tree branch.
He had the skills to cut down the iron gate, so did it matter with what weapon he was
holding?
However, the intruder did not act that way.
It meant that he didn't intend to kill anyone.
'Then why…?"
He could not understand his objective.
Despite being confused, he was sure about one thing.
'Something was going on.'
The feeling of danger and anxiety he felt now was not due to the intruder since he
had no intention to kill the soldiers.
Even if the kid was an intruder, it was hard to consider him an enemy when he did
not harm the soldiers even at the expense of trouble.
'If so, just what is this feeling… '
"Captain!"
Maxman turned his head sharply towards the soldier who called out to him.
"There's a signal from within the castle! I think the intruder had entered the castle."
"What's his exact location?"
"The basement."
"Gather the soldiers and mercenaries immediately… No, wait."
Maxman shook his head.

"Pick out those who can move and set off. I'll go there myself."
Clank, clank!
Crack, crack!
Dozens of rectangular windows were fixed on the walls. Su-hyeun fell back as he was
hit by the flame.
"How disgusting."
He furrowed his brows and turned his head around.
One of the skeletons reached out its hand and stood there.
Whoosh!
They seemed to have prepared for a long time since quite a bit of energy was shot
out.
It was a familiar type of magic.
'Dark Gun, Guide.'
It was a high level of dark spatial magic that took the life of opponents after
pressurizing them by crumbling every space available.
It could not be received by the normal flame.
"Damn it."
Burn!
The flame on Su-hyeun's sword had become blue.
Wrapping it around the sword, Su-hyeun made a downward stroke.
Slash!
Rip!
The Guide's darkness was split in half. The scattered power dissipated, revealing the
Lich.
"The Guide…!"
Seemingly flustered, the Lich's voice cracked as it initially would. Three more Lich
appeared around Su-hyeun and surrounded him.
"Haa…”
Su-hyeun let out a long sigh.
Had he known this would happen, he would have taken his time.
'All I can do now is regret… '
It seemed that Su-hyeun had to use one more of his cards.
'I hadn't wished to use it hastily if others got involved… '
Creak, creak!
Starting from the back of his hands, Su-hyeun's skin was gradually covered in scales.
When both arms were covered entirely in scales, Su-hyeun's eyes had turned similar
to those of a beast's. All his senses were amplified and turned sharper than before.
"I have no other choice."
[Transfigure: Imoogi.]
Act 9
The mission on the 18th floor was pretty simple. Su-hyeun had to knock down a
single object, a single monster.
The mission itself sounded the easiest and simplest. But as a result, the trial on the
18th floor was the most difficult one.
[Knock down an old Imoogi.]
Although it was described as old, Su-hyeun was dumbfounded about this trial at first.
"Imoogi? Did it just say Imoogi?" he asked.
It was an unreasonable monster to come out on the 18th floor. Although it was a
single monster, it was difficult to defeat. After fighting for more than half a day, Su-
hyeun finally knocked down Imoogi. Without a second thought, he used
transfiguration skills to defeat it.
As a result, Su-hyeun gained the power of the Imoogi, the mythical snaked that tried
to become a dragon with divinity.
"Of course, it is not perfect yet," he thought.
So far, he could not control the power of the Imoogi perfectly. Physically, Su-hyeun
was not as powerful as the Imoogi. Because of this, Su-hyeun did not try to the traits
of the Imoogi. Unless he was trying to improve his proficiency on purpose. However,
"If I do this…”
Crunch—
As he grasped his hands, he could feel the scales on the back of his hands. Without
spreading his magic, he could feel the surroundings and energy vividly. It had been a
long time since he felt this.
"Well, then…” he said.
Whip—!
Riiiip—
He tore the energy down that flew in front of him. His long, sharp nails were better
than any other sword.
"Watch out! This brat—" one Richie shouted.
"It is too" —Su-hyeun said and grabbed the head of the Richie—"late to watch out."
Bam—!
Crack, crack—!
The hallway floor was shattered. Su-hyeun's hand broke Richie's head and the Life
Stone came out.
Snatch—
Su-hyeun quickly grabbed the Life Stone. At the same time, he glanced at the other
three remaining Richies.
"I don't have much time. I have to finish it quickly," he thought.
As his five senses extended, he could feel signs from outside of the castle. Soldiers
were coming into the castle. Their signs quickly approached. Soon, they would arrive
here. Then, it would be difficult for him to keep this state.
"Well…” he said.
Swish—
Su-hyeun's new form disappeared, leaving afterimages. In an instant, he got closer to

the monsters. Three Richies condensed their magic.

A solid dark sphere wrapped around Richies. Su-hyeun stroked the sphere with
Gram.
Crack, crack—!
Whirl—
A curtain created by the three Richies magic didn't stay long. It started to crack.
Crack—!
The crack had broken, and huge magic came out from it. Dozens of dark ashes began
to embrace Su-hyeun.
Whoosh—!
At that moment, Su-hyeun made the Flame on the other hand. The red Flame quickly
got bigger and started to cover the Richies.
"What the…?!" one Richie screamed.
The three Richies were surprised and moved away from Flame. In the middle of that,
one Richie pushed another Richie's back. The Flame pushed the darkness away and
turned that Richie into ash. It was the kind of heat that would turn everything, even a
Life Stone to ash.
"Now, there are two," Su-hyeun said.
Slash—!
He swung the sword once more, successfully cutting off one Richie's arm. He meant
to cut the body in half, but only one arm flew away.
Crack—!
The curtain that the Richies made was pointless. They finally realized that and chose
to avoid rather than to block.
"We have to get out of here…” one Richie said.

"We can't win like this," the other Richie realized when he was Su-hyeun was using
the transfiguration skill. He should have figured that out sooner.
Crunch—!
A bird flew from somewhere bit off one Richie's neck. That Richie's movement
stopped. Soon, his body began to burn.
Crunch—!
Caw, caw—!
A phoenix came and bit off the neck and separated the body and head of one Richie.
There was only one Richie left.
"Damn. No way…” he screamed.
"Yes way," Su-hyeun said.
Swish—
Su-hyeun's new form flew to Richie's front. The surprised Richie stretched his arms
quickly. Soon, he released his magic with all his strength.
Whoosh—!
Once again, Guide covered Su-hyeun's body.
It was a hit.
Richie yelled for joy. Since he swept with the Guide, Su-hyeun would not be safe.
"Finally!" Richie thought.
But his pleasure didn't last long. When he yelled for joy—
[Indomitable body.]
Whoosh—!
—Su-hyeun stretched his arm and grabbed Richie's neck. Richie grabbed Su-hyeun's
wrist with his bony hand as if he couldn't believe what was happening.
"How could he…!" Richie screamed.
The Guide was the dark magic about space. It was supposed to trample space and the
pressure was strong enough to break down quite a bit of steel. In such a space, an
ordinary human couldn't survive.
There were two facts that this Richie overlooked. First, Su-hyeun was not an
ordinary human. Second, his body was now assimilated into the body of the Imoogi.
"If you answer my question, I won't break your head," Su-hyeun said.
With the threat of Su-hyeun, the magic on Richie's hand disappeared. He was wanted
to live, but he knew he could die if Su-hyeun made the Flame at that moment.
But as Su-hyeun said, if he could answer the question, he would survive. Because
Richie's power was not in the body; it was the Life Stone in his head.
"So, what do you think?" Su-hyeun asked.
Most of the Richies were born from refusing death too frequently. They could not
give up their lives. Su-hyeun thought this Richie in front of him would not be much
different. And his guess was correct.
"O… K," Richie said.
Richie, who seemed to be worried for a while, soon accepted Su-hyeun's proposal.
Su-hyeun decided to use this Richie. He could just blow away the body, and there was
no reason to keep the promise. There was nothing to worry about.
"First, what's down here?" he asked.
"Under here…”
The moment Richie tried to open his mouth.
Shiver—
Su-hyeun got chills. He was surprised and released Richie's neck. He activated the
Indomitable body again and quickly fell from the spot.
Squish—
Stab—
Two black spears came out from under his feet. One of them pierced Richie from the
bottom. The other rose where Su-hyeun was standing. He could be pierced if he
didn't move. Richie could not continue to speak and stayed still.
Slide—
Clink, clink—
The spears went back to the floor. Life Stone that was pierced fell from Richie's head
to the floor. Richie lost the Life Stone and his life.
“…Well. That is annoying." Su-hyeun mumbled.
Su-hyeun wanted to get the answer and tried to leave quickly.
"This way!
"He is here!"
Soldiers found Su-hyeun.
Among them, the man who was at the forefront was skilled. He had the most intense
magic of anyone in the castle. He was Maxman.
"Everyone! Don't approach. Cover me…” Maxman yelled.
When Maxman found Su-hyeun, he pulled his sword and watched him. He soon froze
after he saw the area where Su-hyeun and the Richies fought. He found remains.
"What, what is all this?" he asked.
Only bones of the Richies' remained. And Su-hyeun was standing in the middle. The
sight made Maxman very confused.
"Well. Should I say it is good timing…?" Su-hyeun glanced down and said, "you are in
charge here, right? Take your men out of the castle, right now."
"What are you talking about?" Maxman made an expression that showed his mixed
feelings
It was their castle. He was the commander of this castle, and Su-hyeun was the one
who had to get out.
But Su-hyeun looked very dignified as if it was his house. Maxman was a bit
embarrassed about it, but first, he had to figure out the situation.
"Well, if you look around, you will figure it out. This is what happened," Su-hyeun
said.
"You mean… Richie?" Maxman asked.
"Yes. This is a den of Richies. If you stay here, you will die," Su-hyeun said.
"Maybe it is you who brought Richies. Or maybe those skeletons were our soldiers."
Maxman couldn't just step out of his protection just because they were Richies. He
wasn't even sure they were Richies. He couldn't afford to blindly believe the words of
an invader.
"Can you see this?" Su-hyeun said.
He lifted the hollow Life Stone on the floor.
"This is Richie's Life Stone. Richies plant these in their heads and save their lives."
“…Prove to me that you didn't bring these Richies," Maxman said.
"Well. If I could bring this number of Richies, I wouldn't make you guys come to the
castle. If I was a real enemy, I probably would have just killed everyone already."
It was creepy, but it was true. Richie was a monster like a high-ranking wizard. If
Richies teamed up with such a skilled swordsman, they would easily raze the castle
to the ground.
In such a situation, Su-hyeun acted like this and killed all Richies? That would be
nonsense.
"Then, really, Richies were here?" Maxman thought, "if that is true, should we escape
the castle as this guy said?"
"Don't you have to save your soldiers?" Su-hyeun pointed at his feet and said, "If you
guys stay here… you all are going to die."
It sounded a bit extreme. Nothing was certain. But Su-hyeun's believed it and
fortunately, Maxman thought the same.
"I…” Maxman opened his mouth. When he almost finished his worrying—
-Don't run away.
—they heard the voice ringing the whole castle. It was the voice of Maxman's
immediate superior, who descended from the kingdom.
"What… the…?" Maxman said.
-Don't run away. Kill that man. Right now.
The voice rang the castle. Su-hyeun could tell whose voice it was.
"It is him," he thought.
It was the Richie that he met the first time when he entered this place. He had the
highest concentration of magic. It was that man's voice.
I am ordering you, as your superior, Maxman.
"Did he just say superior?" Su-hyeun thought.
He looked at Maxman with surprise. Maxman was about to agree with Su-hyeun, but
now he was restless.
"So… Richie was drawing feudal allowance." he thought.
It was a ridiculous situation. The man in front of Su-hyeun, Maxman, was a soldier.
For soldiers, the command of the superior was like the command of a god. It was the
absolute rule that had made men like Maxman serve for a lifetime. So, he had no
choice but to fight. Even if he thought Su-hyeun was right…
"What should I do?" Maxman had no choice. He had to fight.

Maxman closed his eyes for a while and thought. In just a second, he thought many
things. The scales in his head were tilted to one side and then back to the other
constantly. He had never thought so deeply and quickly in such a short amount of
time. Maxman finally opened his eyes.
"I…” Maxman opened his mouth.
He could see Su-hyeun in front of him. The voice from below still made his head
dizzy.
It was at that moment.
Well, then. I think all you guys should rather die here.
Maxman made his decision.
" All army…!"
He turned his body and looked at the soldiers.
"Get out of the castle! Right now!" He put magic in his voice and shouted. His voice
was full of power. He worries completely vanished.
And it was a rebellion against the high officials of the kingdom, who made sound
from downstairs.
-Are you betraying the kingdom?
The shrilly voice shook the castle. Maxman looked down with contempt and opened
his mouth.
"A real soldier doesn't feel diffident superior," he said, "the real soldier reads
subordinate's countenance. Especially, if the price is the life of people, there is
nothing to think about."
The reason he stopped worrying was simple. It was an easy question. The balances
shook several times and soon it tilted to one side. The difference in weight was quite
clear. Maxman had no intention of keeping the superior's order, which was a death
sentence for the soldiers.
If you do that…
Crack, crack —
Barroom, crack —
The castle started to shake, and some sort of dark energy flowed through the walls.
Maxman was surprised and pushed the soldiers back.
I will kill you all.
Whooooom—
"Runaway! Right now!" Maxman had a feeling and shouted.
The soldiers were also anxious. In the meantime, the order fell, so they ran as quickly
as they could.
"R-run away!"
"Get out of the castle!"
"Hurry up! Quickly!"
The soldiers began to move in perfect order, the energy from the wall began to shoot.
Pow, pow, pow—!
Swiiiish—!
Hundreds of thousands of spear blades struck the soldiers.
Maxman quickly moved his magic, but he could not cover all the soldiers with only
his power.
"Is it too late…?" he thought.
Whoosh—!
At that moment, a huge fire swept through the walls of the castle.
crackle—
The heat had encroached on the castle. The heatwave seemed like it could burn the
flesh. Thankfully, the black spears that had been firing at the soldiers were destroyed
by the fire.
"W-what the?… Maxman mumbled.
"Are you in charge here?" Su-hyeun asked.
Maxman turned his head to Su-hyeun when he heard his voice. He thought this guy
was his enemy, but he saved their lives.
"You've made a good choice. Go out, quickly," Su-hyeun said calmly.
"Why…?" Maxman asked.
"The reason is not important right now. You have to survive first, right?"
Su-hyeun's word was right. First of all, surviving was the most important thing. He
didn't want to let thousands of soldiers be killed because of his foolishness. Maxman
nodded and opened his mouth.
"Donald!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Take all the soldiers out of the castle and escape right now. I will leave the rest to
your judgment," Maxman commanded.
"What, sir? What do you mean, sir?" Donald asked.

"You heard me! Move right now! We don't have much time!"
With loud scolding of Maxman, the deputy commander, Donald, shook his body and
nodded. As Maxman said, there was certainly no time to linger. Su-hyeun was
blocking, but the threat had not yet disappeared.
"Run! Escape out of the castle! Now!" Donald shouted.
He began to lead soldiers. He had been in charge of the soldiers for a long time with
Maxman.
Su-hyeun opened his mouth as he watched the soldiers running away.
"Why don't you go?"
"I want to see with my own eyes if my judgment was correct," Maxman answered.
"Do you still think I might be the enemy?" Su-hyeun asked.
"Perhaps… No… Yes," Maxman answered slowly.
Maxman had made a choice, but he was not sure about it yet. Right at the moment,
he thought saving the soldiers was the right decision and he didn't regret it.
However, it was necessary to check who Su-hyeun was.
"I am grateful to save the soldiers. As a superior, I thought it was better to take your
side than that ruffian that told all soldiers to die. But…”
Maxman shut his eyes, opened again, and continued to say.
"I can't eliminate any single possibility. I have never seen you before. So, if my
decision was wrong… I will take responsibility for myself."
It was understandable. Su-hyeun was the person he never saw before, especially he
invaded the castle. It was hard to believe that Su-hyeun was on his side, even if he
had saved them. At least Maxman thought he needed to check the situation as the
man in charge.
"Whatever. Do as you please," Su-hyeun said.

Rumble, Ruuuuumble—
The walls shook more and more loudly. Su-hyeun gave a little more magic to the
Flame. The magic of Richie and Su-hyeun continued to collide.
"It could have bothered me," he thought.
Maxman's choice about the voice that came from below was fortunate for Su-hyeun.
If Maxman decided to keep the position and attack Su-hyeun, he had no choice but to
escape from the soldiers.
He was not sure what was underneath. But no matter what was there, if the soldiers
stayed, he could not be rash in a choice move or fight.
"Since he made a difficult decision—" Su-hyeun thought.
Whoosh, whoosh—
"—I guess, the decision I made was not wrong."
Su-hyeun was blocking all the sides' walls in the castle with the Flame. Additionally,
he had controlled his power and focused to not burn the soldiers so far. The magic
and concentration that was consumed in the process were difficult to cope with even
though he was excellent at controlling magic.
And Maxman, who was facing Su-hyeun himself, might know that. Maxman was also
a man who could use magic. For a long time, Su-hyeun concentrated and blocked
Richie's magic. When he was convinced that all the soldiers had escaped from the
castle, he finally put out his Flame.
"Huu—" he sighed.
It had been a long time that he had used so much magic. Although his Magic Factor
increased over the past year, there was a limit, of course.
Sweat formed on his tired face. Su-hyeun sat down and checked around.
"Is he tired, too?" he thought.
Richie, who had been fighting for a while, also stopped releasing his power. Su-hyeun
was thankful for that, he had time to take a breath.
"You really won't go out?" Su-hyeun asked once more to confirm before he stood up,
"I can't protect you anymore."
" I can protect myself," Maxman said.
"Well… I don't think so…” Su-hyeun said.
"Don't' worry. I won't beg for my life. As commander here, I must see what is going
on in this castle."
He was an inflexible and stubborn man. Su-hyeun wondered, how this kind of man
could decide against the kingdom.
"I guess he takes care of the soldiers that much," he thought.
Maxman was a good superior. Thanks to him, this test became much easier.
"Now, it is almost time to end," Su-hyeun thought.
Tuk, tuk—
He beat the dust off the pants and stood up.
Maxman also stood up and drew his sword.
"Then, let's go," Su-hyeun said.
"Are you going underground?" Maxman asked.
"Yes," Su-hyeun answered.
"I'll take the lead. Follow me."
Maxman, who knew the castle's structure well, stepped to one side to guide him.
"You don't have to."
Crack—!
Su-hyeun struck the sword toward the floor as he did the first time. Then, he injected
his magic and began to break the floor.
Whack, whaaaack —
Craaaash—
Maxman shouted in surprise as he looked back at Su-hyeun, who was about to break
the castle disappear below.
"How dare you break the castle…!"
"We don't have time to go around," Su-hyeun said.
"But…”
"If we don't hurry, all soldiers may die."
In response to Su-hyeun, Maxman shut his mouth up. The soldiers might die. Nothing
more effective for Maxman than that and it was not just to make his mouth shut.
Crack, rumble—
The floor began to collapse. Su-hyeun jumped down and glanced at Maxman. While
falling, Maxman calmly slowed down. He didn't particularly study magic, but he had
quite excellent physical skills.
"Hmm… He is quite good," Su-hyeun thought.
Maxman had a good magic ability, but he was the swordsman who had a much better
physical ability. He might be comparable to Richies that Su-hyeun just fought. At
least, he would not be a burden.
Swish—
Crunch, crunch—
Su-hyeun broke the floor several more times. As they descended, they finally arrived
at the dark underground. There was no light. Indeed, it was dark. It was not just
because there was no light. There was some energy hovering around. It was very
dreary energy, and could even erase the musty smell of the underground.
"Where is this place…?" Maxman mumbled.
He never saw this place before--a surprise since he knew the castle underground so
well. It consisted of prisons for sinners or for soldiers who had committed
wrongdoing. But this place was not for that. The underground that Maxman knew
was above this place. This place was the underground of the underground.
Maxman, who was commander of the castle, never knew this place existed.
"Watch out. Don't move," Su-hyeun said.
He quickly grabbed Maxman's shoulder as he was about to take a step forward.
"Your ankle will be cut off."
"…!"
Maxman looked around in surprise. Hundreds and thousands of blades were laid on
the floor. They wriggled and wandered around the floor as if they were alive. They
were not normal weapons. They were blades made in some magical way.
"That is too bad. You could pay the price for betrayal."
The shadow of a person revealed with a giggle.
"Betrayal, my a*s. I don't think someone fooled others can use such words."
Richie, who was looking at Maxman, turned his face to Su-hyeun as if his words made
him feel bad.
"Where did a guy like you come from?" Richie asked in a quiet voice.
"I dropped with a thud from the sky. To kill the bastards like you," Su-hyeun said.
It was not necessarily wrong. He had fallen to pass this place to pass the test. Until
now, it was only a series of steps to complete this trial perfectly.
And perhaps the final test of this trial would be the Richie in front of him.
"Are you trying to play some sort of hero?" Richie asked.
"Did you just say a hero?" Su-hyeun knitted his brows at Richie's question and said,
"watch your mouth. That word. I don't like it much."
Whirl, whirl—
The magic started to overrun around Su-hyeun. The highly concentrated magic blew
violently and became hotter. In a sudden change of mood, Richie also pulled our his
magic.
"Well, that is good. Because I do not like the type of people who pretend to be a
hero." Richie chuckled and laughed at Su-hyeun. He continued to say, "but isn't it
weird? What you did was a hero thing. Why did you save the soldiers? Go to all that
effort? And why did you trust me to not hurt them after they ran away?"
“…What?" Maxman looked back at Su-hyeun in surprise. "Even after the soldiers ran
away?"
Su-hyeun had helped the soldiers run away and checked the Richie during his break.
He focused all his nerves on Richie in the deep underground. He also checked the
soldiers' movement. In the process, he consumed with considerable concentration
and even physical strength.
"I did not care for them at all. You fool just wasted your power." Richie sneered.
"It was not a waste," Su-hyeun denied what Richie said and stepped forward.
Crack—!
He trampled the blade under his feet. The magic spread around him with rage. His
eyes sparkled. He stared at Richie.
"Why was that a waste?" he asked.
Thump—
Su-hyeun closed the distance toward Richie.
"Since the soldiers ran away because of me, it is my responsibility to keep them alive.
This man, right here, evacuated the soldiers because of me."
Su-hyeun remembered what Maxman said, "If my decision was wrong… I will take
responsibility for myself."
The sense of responsibility and pressure that Maxman felt, Su-hyeun could
understand better than anyone else. His one action and one word could decide so
many people's lives.
"If so… I should decide that the decision was not wrong. That is my responsibility,"
Su-hyeun determined.
"What funny sophistry! Are you sacrificing yourself to save others?"
"It is not a sacrifice. It is a responsibility. Responsibility for my actions. Can you say a
fool who doesn't know that he is a wizard of knowledge?"
“…I know for sure," Richie said with certainty, "you are the same as every other hero I
know."
"Really? Is that so?"
Stab—
Su-hyeun's sword penetrated Richie's head.
"Well then, let's just say you are right," he said.
Whoosh—!
Richie's body started to burn and lit up the dark underground. Su-hyeun turned his
body behind the burning Richie.
"Kekeke." Richie's laughter came from the back.
At first, the burned body by Flame was not Richie's. It was some sort of hallucination
magic.
"You are a funny guy. A hero?… No, you already knew about me, didn't you?" Richie
asked.
"About half?" Su-hyeun answered.
He had a rough idea about the final destination of this trial, the mission that he got at
this moment.
"The God of Death. Well, that is just a name… I think you are an apostle of the king,
the Richie King."
The Richie King. Among the intelligent monsters, he was also known as the God of
Death. The Richie in front of him was an apostle of that Richie King. He was an
upper-grade Richie, who was master of death-related magic
Su-hyeun looked at the huge pattern drawn on the floor of the underground. It was a
very complex pattern. He had seen this pattern once before.
"Death-Force Absorption."
Death-Force Absorption was the name of this pattern named by awakeners. It was a
skill to draw the souls around the pattern and to improve the power of the user. It
was a kind of magic circle that was mainly used by the apostle of the Richie King. Su-
hyeun had been contemplating this skill since hearing the content of the trial and
knowing the existence of Richie.
"If all people were dead…," he thought, "that Richie probably had much stronger
power than now."
That was the reason why the gatekeeper gave him a hint, "Do not kill anyone."
"Kekeke. You are just proving your ignorance by disparaging His Majesty by that
name," Richie giggled and said.
"Bullsh*t. He is just a little stronger skeleton. You are the ignorant one, serving that
man as a god."
"That is because you have no idea who His…”
"That fellow. He will be killed by my hands." Su-hyeun cut Richie off.
Richie stopped laughing by Su-hyeun's word. He was pretty loyal to his king, as soon
as Su-hyeun mentioned the king's death, he did not look relaxed anymore. But what
he said was not just a lie to provoke him.
"What? Can't you believe me? Then, go otherworld and wait. You will see him soon."
“…You brat. Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am. You would know. If my word is true or not."
What Su-hyeun said was true. The Richie King was a great being praised by Richies
as the God of Death, but he was also just a monster.
At the time of the dungeon outbreak, Su-hyeun had dealt with him. That time, he
killed the Richie King and destroyed all Richies in the world. The Richie King was the
creator of Richie's life extension system. That was why all Richies served him as a
god.
"You're saying something you shouldn't," Richie said in a low voice.
Kuuuuuu—
Crash, Craaaash—
The magic of Su-hyeun and Richie started to crash. Maxman, who was in the middle,
grasped his fist. His feet started to tremble.
"This is… This is a different world than I lived in," he thought.
Maxman already knew how strong Su-hyeun was. He saw his skills with own eyes.
The mysterious fire and magic he was using, and his magic factor was high. Plus, his
sword skills were way higher than average. Maxman could not hesitate to say he was
just amazing. But he still thought, there would be something he could help. But…
"What the hell am I doing…” he mumbled.
He was seeing the kingdom's secret right at the moment. The Richie was appointed
as the lord of a castle. Somebody in the kingdom planned to kill all soldiers and to
increase the power of Richie.
And since Maxman confirmed all the facts, he had to help Su-hyeun at least a little
bit. But he could not. He had no power for that. He was not sure if his help would
help Su-hyeun anyway.
Sizzle—
Two huge bolts of magic hit and bounced in all directions. At that moment, it had
become bright in front of Maxman's eyes. When he opened his eyes again, they were
gone.
"Where did they go?"
Craaack—!
Whack—!
He could feel the hot heat and stinging aura.
Rumble, ruuumble —
The underground started to shake.
Swish, swish—
Whoosh—!
Maxman barely protected himself from the aftermath of the fight. Su-hyeun swung
Gram and struck Richie's head.
Guuuuu—
Swish—
Gram's way was warped by the huge pressure that shot from his hand, the Guide
magic. But Richie could not turn the way of the sword as he expected. The attack he
had made intending to destroy it in the first place.
"As I expected…," Richie thought.
Swish—!
The ominous black sphere twisted its shape and shot at Su-hyeun. He did not avoid
it, he rather cut it off, and approached Richie.
Slash, slash—
Boom, boom, boom—
The sphere was cut and lost its direction and burst out. Richie focused on Su-hyeun's
sword.
"That sword is pretty annoying," Richie thought.
He looked at the sword in Su-hyeun's hand. Su-hyeun's ability was extraordinary, but
his sword was something very special as well.
Su-hyeun did not use much of his power. He was saving his magic. The hardness and
sharpness of the sword was all the ability of the sword itself. Richie was surprised at
the fact that the sword could cut his magic by its power.
"and that power—"
Whoosh—
The flame surrounded Su-hyeun, who was burning all the dark magic and
approaching him. He could not get closer to Su-hyeun because of that. That was a
good defending method, also an absolute attacking method. That Flame was
incompatible with Richie, who was using the dark magic.
"— is very tricky," Richie thought.
In this way, it would be hard to fight back. Moreover, the skill he was preparing did
not complete. The situation was disadvantageous to him.
"Then…," Richie thought something and rushed to Su-hyeun.
Richie was a wizard, but he ran into the swordsman. It was not a normal situation.
Su-hyeun's eyes flashed in an unexpected situation.
"What is he doing?" Su-hyeun thought.
Swish—
Richie stretched out his hand to Su-hyeun.
In that short moment, Su-hyeun's head spun fast. "Should I make this face-to-face? Is
it some sort of trick? Is this an opportunity or a trap?"
With complicated thinking, the Flame on his hand changed its color.
Swoosh—
The Flame that changed to blue inflated its size.
"I won't avoid you. Face-to-face."
The worries were brief, and there was no reason to save power since he had made
the decision.
[The Transfiguration skill: Imoogi.]
[The Flame.]
[Indomitable body.]
Su-hyeun's body was surrounded by scales of Imoogi. The blue Flame covered his
body and sword. His body became harder than steel because of the Indomitable body
skill. There was no need to save his magic. If only he could cut Richie now.
"What the…” Richie, who ran straight to Su-hyeun, was surprised by the unexpected
strength. "He is more powerful than I expected…!"
The moment when their hands and swords cross each other—
Swoosh—
Boooom—!
—The blue and black magic hit, and the shock wave shook the whole huge castle.
Act 10
Kuuuuuu—
The castle, which had been shaken by the aftermath of the huge explosion, began to
stabilize.
Patter, patter—
The broken walls and ceiling fell. Maxman coughed and lowered his arm that he had
raised to protect his head.
"Cough! Cough!"
Kkkrrraak—
Crash—
A pile of rock that had poured over his head spilled onto the floor. It was a miracle to
survive in this mess. Maxman thought if he was a wizard, not a swordsman, he would
not have survived.
"What is just happened…?"
Maxman, who had barely recovered his vision, lifted his head and stiffened like a
rock and opened his eyes wide. His mouth opened in surprise.
"C-castle…”
The empty underground was cluttered with the collapsed ceiling, meaning that the
aftereffect of the explosion had affected not only the underground but also the
ground itself. It was amazing that such an explosion occurred due to the collision of
power, but it was also amazing that he survived in it.
"Wait! What happened to that guy?"
In this collision, what happened to the parties, Su-hyeun and Richie?
"Could he survive? Even the castle collapsed!" Maxman quickly stood up and looked
around. Su-hyeun had saved many soldiers in the castle and himself.
Crash, crash—
At that time, he sensed somebody's presence at the piles of stones at one side.
Rumble—
The pile of stones was shaken. Some debris poured down. And from the crack of the
pile of stones, one arm came out.
Crack—
-Ugh… Uh…
Maxman heard a voice crack in frustration. There was a hand had no flesh, only bone.
Crumble—
Soon, Richie came out from the pile of stones and looked around.
“…Sh*t," Maxman swore despite himself. He hoped that the person who survived
there was Su-hyeun. But Richie survived and stood right there.
"Can I win?" Maxman thought. He already knew the ability of Richie.
"If it was a normal fight, I would lose," he thought. He was sure about that. But now,
Richie was not in good shape. "Maybe I can win. If I fight now before he recovers. I
have to hurry…”
Crack—
At that moment, another hand squeezed out of the pile of stones. And…
Snatch—
Crash—!
That hand grabbed Richie's head and slammed it down on the ground.
"Cough, Cough!"
Su-hyeun, who appeared with a cough, muttered with Richie's head on the floor.
"Ah, I ate a lot of sand."

"You…!" Maxman yelled.
"Oh, are you alive? I thought you died. Well, I am glad you didn't," Su-hyeun calmly
said but he was covered in blood. The blood spilled from the broken head. His arm
was almost crushed, and his body was staggering. He certainly did not seem to be
okay.
"Are you worried about me now?"
"I won't die, I know my body," Su-hyeun said and shook his hand. One arm was
crushed, but the other one was fine.
"But still…” Maxman looked aghast when he saw Su-hyeun who pretended to be fine
in awful shape.
Crack, crack—
-You… Bastard…
"Ah, man?"
Crash—
Su-hyeun trampled on Richie's head. With a crunching sound, his head crushed and
the Life Stone popped out.
"You are making me sick," Su-hyeun said.
Flop—
He plunked down on the ground. It was a short moment, but he thought he might
have died.
"I can't believe he blew up the skill itself," he thought.
Death-Force Absorption was a skill that gathered the souls of the dead and melted it
to turn it into the user's power. The soul had greater power than expected. Even
though the person was weak, the soul itself kept considerable power in it.
Su-hyeun thought that Richie had not absorbed any soul with the skill. But there was
one thing he had overlooked. The prisoners in the castle. The underground of the
castle was a place to keep prisoners or soldiers who had committed crimes. There
were dozens of people thrown in jail. Richie absorbed their souls in the skill and
exploded it all at once. It was a gamble that risked the Richie's life.
"Really… That was so close," Su-hyeun sighed.
If more souls had been absorbed by Richie, he probably wouldn't be standing.

Protecting the soldiers, making them run out of the castle had been the right choice.
With the thought that it was over, his body loosened up. He took a deep breath. The
dust spread underground came into his mouth. He frowned.
Maxman walked to him. He checked Su-hyeun and asked, "Are you… really okay?"
"Yes, I am fine," Su-hyeun answered.
"But…” Maxman hestitated.
"It will be better if I get some rest for a few days. I am really fine."
The physical strength of awakener was not just the ability to run and fight for long.
The higher Health stats, the more the body recovery ability increased rapidly. Su-
hyeun's Health stats were not at all low. No matter how severe the injury, it would be
best to take a few days to rest.
"Thank you." Maxman bowed his head to Su-hyeun. "Thanks to you, not only me but
my soldiers were able to survive. I had no idea the lord of a castle was Richie."
"It is okay. I didn't do it to save anyone. There is no reason to be thanked." Su-hyeun

was ashamed by the sudden change of Maxman's attitude.
Strictly speaking, Su-hyeun had helped him because it was a challenge of trial. If the
soldiers died, Su-hyeun would be in trouble.
"Well, good things are good things," he thought and picked up the Life Stone on the
floor.
Richie's Life Stone, this was the main part of the Richie.
Whoosh—
Crackle, crackle—
The Life Stone in Su-hyeun's hand burned in the Flame. The sound of the soul's
screams echoed in his head.
"Shut up. Just go."
Sizzle—
The Life Stone melted. At that moment, a message came to his head.
[Calculating your accomplishment.]
[Remaining Time: 29 days.]
[You did not get help from Osman kingdom.]
[You did not get help from Hero, Priscilla.]
[You did not get help from Hero, Gerschmann.]
[You did not…]
[Counting the number of surviving soldiers.]
[7,129 soldiers survived.]
[You have attained the highest accomplishment.]
[You have passed the 20th-floor's trial with perfection.]
[You have ranked first.]
[Your Strength has increased by 1 point.]

[Your Agility has increased by 2 points.]
[Your Health has increased by 2 points.]
[Your magic factor has increased by 2 points.]
[You will get an additional reward depending on your accomplishment level.]
[You have achieved the additional reward - 'Hero: immortality.']
"…”
It was the first time he had seen such a long message. He had never received a
message this long, even in his previous life, which meant that Su-hyeun's
achievements were excellent.
-A help from Osman kingdom.
-A help from Hero, Priscilla.
-A help from Hero, Gerschmann.
-A help from Hero…
What it meant was clear.
"Well. It was a sh*t hard time." Su-hyeun thought.
The system gave him almost 30 days. It was time to get their help. Perhaps the
heroes and Osman kingdom already knew the existence of the Richie here. At first, it
was not typed of the trial to solve alone. Even at level 10, the difficulty of this trial
was insane for the 20th floor.
"Four Richies, and one apostolic Richie…” Su-hyeun sighed.
"But thanks to that, the achievement was calculated pretty high."
At least, there was something to comfort himself. Su-hyeun felt a little better to think
about that. Unfortunately, his magic level did not increase by much. He felt sorry for
that. He knew that there was a big difference in each level from level 6. But this time
he expected a little.
"Well. I guess I just have to satisfy with the additional reward," he thought.
He got 100,000 achievement points, including Strength, additional stats, and magic
factor. He also got a new skill, which was not a bad reward.
"Goodbye, mister" Su-hyeun waved at Maxman.
Maxman was surprised for calling him mister and a sudden salutation.
"M-mister? Wait. What do you mean goodbye…?"
Pooooof—
Su-hyeun's appearance began to become transparent. Maxman reached out to Su-

hyeun and shouted something loud, but his voice didn't reach him.
[You will ascend to the 21st floor.]
Thump, thump—
Su-hyeun, who returned to the home could barely walk to the bed. Although he
passed the trial, his injury remained. He could use the treasure of Shayre and recover
his body, but it was not bad enough to use the healing tool when he only had the
opportunity to use it twice. Using it for this would be a waste.
"Phew," Su-hyeun sighed. He felt tired. Although he took the pain pills he found at the
store, the pain was not completely gone. If he didn't rest for a few days, the pain
would probably continue.
"I can hold it in. I can…”
Plump—
He lay on the wide bed with blood on his body. He was overcome by fatigue and
closed his eyes. He did not know when he fell asleep. He slept almost all day, every
day. As people say, sleep is a good cure. He felt much better when he awoke.
"Ugh…” Su-hyeun made a moaning sound.
The crushed arm was more of a problem than anything else. The fatigue made Su-
hyeun quite relaxed, but one arm was still unnatural. Even with the remedy, the
healing seemed to take a long time.
"I guess I have to go to the hospital and have it at least bandaged," he thought.
He could not walk around outside with a crushed arm like this. It seemed like it
would be hard to see Shin Su-yeong for a few days. She would be frightened to see
him injured this badly.
Buzz—
The smartphone next to the bed rang. It was a text. He checked his phone and found
several missed calls. He was not aware of the vibrations in his sleep.
"How deep did I sleep?"
It had been a long time since he had been so tired. Su-hyeun sat on the bed and
checked the phone. The missed calls were from Lee Ju-ho.
-Did you pass the 20th floor already? In a day?
-Are you not able to pick up the phone? Are you not feeling well?
-It is crazy in Abyss Online. They are talking about how a person can pass the 20th
floor in a day. Especially this time…
“…Umm. Is it already posted?" he thought.
From two years ago, the interest in Su-hyeun had steadily increased on Abyss Online.
Recently, there were more and more people who saw him on the same line as S-rank
awakeners. Of course, most of that interest was because Su-hyeun was the only
awakener to challenge the trials of level 10 and that his face was not known at all.
"Well, I guess there is a reason he is worrying."
The 20th floor was already known for its difficulty. People usually lowered the level
of trial for this floor, but Su-hyeun kept insisting on level 10. And he passed the trial
just in one day. It was far beyond the expected range.
"I also have to check what I asked for him," he thought.
Brinngg—
Su-hyeun pressed the button and called Lee Ju-ho.
Su-hyeun made an appointment with Lee Ju-ho and headed straight to a nearby
hospital. At the hospital, he scheduled the surgery and set the broken arm right. Of
course, after that, the hospital urged Su-hyeun to be hospitalized immediately.
"Look. You can't go around with that body! What will you do with that arm anyway?"
the doctor said.
"I am an awakener."
"Still! Your body…”
"I am fine. Just apply for some medicine on my arm and wrap the bandage. Give me
some pain killers as well if you can."
"Huh…” The doctor sighed and look at him as if he was crazy.
Su-hyeun, who acted casual with his mangled body and arm, did not seem normal.
No matter how resilient awakening people are, they would know and feel pain.
"If you have any problems, you must come right back. Don't move too much."
"Okay."
Su-hyeun thought to answer him positively would be better than having a war of
words with him. But no matter what happened, he did not have any plans to come
back to the hospital.
"I'll be better in one day, except for my arm," he thought.
Of course, he was confident that his arms would be better in a few days. The difficult
part was setting the broken bone. After that, it would recover quickly. Su-hyeun
already largely set the broken part, so the doctor's job was only a detailed operation.
After treatment, he came out of the room. Lee Ju-ho was waiting for him on the 1st
floor. Ju-ho was surprised to see Su-hyeun injured.
"Are you okay?" Ju-ho asked.
"You mean this?" Su-hyeun turned his bandaged arm around and answered, "It is
nothing."
"Oh, come on now!" That time, the doctor yelled at Su-hyeun behind of him.
He looked at him as if scolding that he was not careful.

"Let's go." Su-hyeun, who told the doctor that he would be careful, flinched from his
lack of care. He pushed Lee Ju-ho's back. He could hear a nagging of the doctor
behind them, but he pretended not to hear and moved in a hurry.
The two men headed to a nearby cafe. Since Su-hyeun bandaged his arm and body, it
attracted others' attention. So they found a place to sit away from prying eyes.
"How is your arm?" Lee Ju-ho, who ordered a cup of coffee, asked Su-hyeun.
"It is okay. I'm fine, really," Su-hyeun nodded and answered.
"I saw your face crumpled when you were swinging your arms earlier…” Lee Ju-ho
said as his voice trailed off.
"Well, it is moving. That is good enough. Besides, injuring this much is not a big deal
when we pass the trials, right?" Su-hyeun answered confidently as if he asked an
obvious thing.
Lee Ju-ho didn't know what to say anymore. Since the injured one himself said he
was fine, there was nothing he could do.
"Well, moving around a day after a trial like this means his injury must not be too
bad," he thought, "This is pretty normal."
After the trial, seven or eight of the ten people usually injured themselves and
devoted time to healing and recovering. Lee Ju-ho had been injured many times
before as he ascended in the Tower of Trials. But Su-hyeun had not been injured
much so far, except for some small wounds. This was the first time he was wounded
badly. He was just a special case that he hadn't been injured much so far. The degree
of injury he had now was not something serious compared to others.
"The problem was that it was the first time he was truly hurt, " Lee Ju-ho thought.
But if Su-hyeun thought this wound was not something special, there would be
nothing to worry about. So, Lee Ju-ho decided to not worry about Su-hyeun anymore.
"It's nothing, but I called you to answer the question you asked the last time and ask
you how you through the 20th floor so quickly."
"That… I used some ignorant way…” Su-hyeun faltered the end because he was not
sure how to explain this.
Then, he thought it would be better if he didn't talk about it, so he closed his mouth.
Lee Ju-ho did not ask again as if it was not a big deal. In the end, there was one
reason they met.
"By the way, what happened to the thing I asked you? What did the director say?"
"Umm, that…," Lee Ju-ho sighed and replied, "It is failed."
When Lee Ju-ho finished talking, there was only a devastating silence in the
director's office. The air felt heavy, it was hard to breathe in there. Kim Do-ui, who
followed Ju-ho with a light heart, felt cautious even to swallow. The situation
continued like that for a while.
“…That is bullsh*t." The director opened his mouth in a low voice.
"S-sir?" Kim Do-ui was surprised and called the director.
The word came out because he was embarrassed. He did not open his mouth to say
anything. The director gazed at Kim Do-ui. When he got the attention of the director,
he was startled. He lowered his head and stepped back.
"Why do you think so?" he asked.
"There's no basis, is there?" the director asked.
It was obvious. Even Lee Ju-ho thought he had not enough evidence. But that didn't
mean he would step back simply.
"But what if my words are true…”
"Then, bring me that evidence." The director got up from his seat as if he did not
want to listen to him anymore.
"In a month, a dungeon will appear in the sky of Anyang City, Gyeonggi Province?
And what's inside the dungeon will cause an outbreak immediately? So, we have to
dispose of awakeners and evacuate the citizens?"
The director listed the things that Lee Ju-ho had asked so far and laughed
ridiculously.
"Are you out of your mind?" The director sneered.
"Sir."
"Do you know how many people live in Anyang City? It's nearly 600,000 people. Are
you saying we have to evacuate all those people? Because of you?"
"Yes. It is the matter with that 600,000 people."
"If we evacuate 600,000 people, 60 million people in this country will be in fear.
Because of your poorly-founded word."
"…”
"Where did you get that information anyway? If you tell me the source, I will
investigate," the director said.
The source of information, was Su-hyeun, of course. But even Lee Ju-ho did not hear
the exact basis of this information from Su-hyeun.
"Just… I heard he got this information from the Tower of Trials."
"So, it is not you. You just heard from someone."
"Yes."
"Then, tell me, who this man is."
At the end of the director's remarks, Lee Ju-ho thought a while, "Should I tell him
this? If I tell him I know who Kim Su-hyeun is, how with the director react? Should I
hide it? But, what if it's true. Then, hundreds of thousands will die."
Lee Ju-ho shut his eyes and said, "I heard it from Kim Su-hyeun."
"Kim Su-hyeun?"
As if that was an unexpected name, the director's eyes shook for the first time, and so
did Kim Do-ui, who was standing next to him.
"Is Kim Su-hyeun… Possibly that…?"
"Yes. He is that Kim Su-hyeun."
"Did you have an acquaintance with him?"
"I accidentally got in touch and he asked to tell you about this. I don't know him."
"Why are you sure that he is Kim Su-hyeun?" the director asked.
"I am not sure. But just… he said he is Kim Su-hyeun."
Lee Ju-ho hid Su-hyeun's identity and found a compromise point to persuade the
director.
Kim Su-hyeun was a name that no one could ignore among the awakener of recent
years. The name had a special meaning as well as a mystery. He was the world's only
10-level trial challenger. It would be understandable, that he got this information in
some special way, during his trial. At least, it would be better than Lee Ju-ho to make
up a lie. Whether it worked or not, the director seemed to be thinking for a moment.
And soon, the director opened his mouth. "No."
"Sir!" Lee Ju-ho's voice rose for the first time.
Even he mentioned Su-hyeun, the director still denied it. Even after Lee Ju-ho's
response, the director shook his head as he reconfirmed his decision.
"It is hard to believe what you just said. Even if the source of information is Kim Su-
hyeun, we don't know if we can trust him. The information may be wrong."
"But still! You should not play a gamble with the lives of so many people!"
"I am the one who listened to you and made decisions. I'm responsible for that
decision. So, if your information is wrong, I'm responsible for it too. Can you take
responsibility for that?"
Lee Ju-ho gritted his teeth at the director's words. In the end, it meant that he would
not act because he was afraid of responsibility. For the director, even if Lee Ju-ho 's
words were true, there was no problem. Citizens would die, but it would be an
unexpected and difficult situation to cope with, like natural disasters. He wouldn't
have to take responsibility.
But what if he evacuated citizens as Lee Ju Ho's requested, but then what would
happen if the dungeon didn't appear? The responsibility of putting the people into
fear with false facts would follow. And that would be the responsibility of the
director, not Lee Ju-ho. Lee Ju-ho was not in a position to take such a responsibility.
"So… Are you going to gamble with the lives of the citizens?" Lee Ju-ho asked.
"What do you mean gambling?"
"You left the safety of the people behind to avoid the responsibility now. If… If what I
said happens, will you pretend you never heard this?"
"That is not what I meant. Do you have to think awry like that?"
"That is what it is!"
Thump, thump—
Slam—!
Lee Ju-ho approached the director and hit the desk with his fist. The desk was
cracked and the documents on it fell. The director frowned at his anger.
"You are so upset now. I will pretend I didn't hear that."
The director glanced at Kim Do-ui next to him. His glance meant to let Lee Ju-ho go
quickly. Kim do-ui sighed and took Lee Ju-ho out of the room. He regretted following
the director's orders.
"That is what happened." Lee Ju-ho looked very angry as he was finishing the story.
His red face looked like it would almost explode soon. The director's decision
showed nothing but negligence and disregard for the safety of citizens to avoid
responsibility. However, Su-hyeun, who asked him to talk with the director, didn't
seem very upset.
"Yeah, he is that kind of man. Whew…” Su-hyeun sighed deeply.
He looked resigned rather than upset. Lee Ju-ho looked at Su-hyeun curiously.
"Do you know the director?" he asked.
"Yes."
"The way you said that sounds like you know him very well…”
Of course, Su-hyeun knew what the director of the Awakeners Accreditation

Authority was like. Perhaps not many people knew him as well as Su-hyeun.
"I had lots of bad experiences," he thought.
The director was always just like this. He was full of fear of his responsibility, and he
was indifferent to the safety and security of others. As a position to be responsible
for the safety of many people, Su-hyeun thought he was the worst person. So, he
didn't expect much. But there would be a chance. That was why he asked Lee Ju-ho
to talk with him. But the result was as he expected. Since he expected the result of
this, he was not upset.
"Are you okay?" Lee Ju-ho asked.
"What do you mean?"
"That I mentioned you."
"Well, that is—"
Su-hyeun didn't think it was a big problem. Lee Ju-ho had tried to persuade the
director in his way. Rather than getting angry, it was something to be thankful for.
"—okay. Anyway, getting help from the Authority won't be an option anymore."
"What will you do now? It will be hard to get other awakeners' help that day. Many
people will be gathered in Ansan to attack the dungeon in there."
It was unfortunate. If there were more awakeners, even the damage would be great,
but hundreds of thousands of people would not die. At that time, so many people had
died. It was one of the worst disasters that Su-hyeun remembered. And…
"I was there," he thought.
This disaster happened when Su-hyeun just started as an awakener. He was not
mobilized in the green dungeon that day. Instead, he mobilized in that disaster. And
he had to see with his own eyes that many people dying on the spot. And he had no
power to stop that.
"It is different… this time."
Unlike the time when he had just started to awaken, he had power now. It would be
different. Remembering the future and being empowered made that difference.
"If the Authority won't help," Su-hyeun said in a low voice, as he had planned anyway,
"I guess I will do it by myself somehow."
Lee Ju-ho thought Su-hyeun said nonsense. He felt embarrassed, so he asked him,
“…What? By yourself?"
"Yes," Su-hyeun who thought he might not hear well, replied clearly, "By myself."
Act 1
"What does he mean? Do it all by himself?"
Lee Ju-ho was disconcerted by Su-hyeun's confident answer. At first, he thought Su-
hyeun might have an excellent plan. But he said he just take on the dungeon by
himself. Lee Ju-ho had no idea how to take it.
"Well, don't worry too much. I have an idea," Su-hyeun said.
"It will be alright, won't it?"
"Yes. I will make it alright."
Su-hyeun didn't plan to do anything. Although the situation would not help, he
decided to manage it somehow. Lee Ju-ho smoothed down his chest after he listened
to Su-hyeun's definite answer. Since he looked confident, maybe he had an excellent
plan.
"Then, I will count on you, Su-hyeun," Lee Ju-ho said.
"Well…” Su-hyeun hesitated a little bit and said an uneasy word to Lee Ju-ho, who
was finally relieved, "Although, it is not a very reliable way."
"What?"
Su-hyeun didn't say anything to Lee Ju-ho. Since he had already got treatment in the
hospital, he caught a taxi and returned home. When he opened the front door, the
first thing he saw was the blood trail from the living room to the door of the
bedroom.
"I guess it'll take a while to clean up."

He opened the bedroom door. He had forgotten, but the bedroom was the same as
well. Even the bed was covered with blood.
"I think… I just have to hire a cleaner."
He tried to clean it up, but this was a mess that he couldn't clean alone. He had lots of
money he didn't know what to do with. There was no place he could go, so he called
the cleaning company. He discarded the dirty bedsheets and ordered new ones.
Plump—
Su-hyeun perched himself on the edge of the bed until the cleaners came. Now, there
was only one month left until the disaster.
"Should I challenge the 21st floor?" he thought.
There was more time left than he thought. Trials on the 20th floor ended faster than
expected. Originally, it was supposed to take nearly a month, but Su-hyeun ignorantly
passed it in a day. Because of that, now he had a month to spare. He started to think
about how to use this time.
"What if I get injured like this again?"
That would be dangerous, depending on the type of trial, he might end up having a
serious wound. It was possible he couldn't pass the trial in the right amount of time.
If he completed the trial in one day, that would be a really big problem.
"I should hold trials for a while."
Then there was only one thing to do for the rest of the month.
"The highest potential potion," he mumbled.
Thanks to the rewards he gained after the recent trial, his achievement points
exceeded two million. This was enough to buy what he wanted, the highest potential
potion. He had been delayed until now since he had a serious injury. But he almost
recovered to the point that he could move again.
"Wait a second," He recalled another reward that he had forgotten, "Was it a new
skill?"
The name of the skill was Immortality. Would it be as good as the name sounded? He
checked the skill.
[Hero - Immortality.]
*Rating: It is direct proportion to the user's magic.
*Category: Passive
*Lv: 1
 This is a body of Adele Kleimer who fought against the devil a long time
ago. It is said that the body of a hero was nearly immortal, like a god who
does not die or get injured.
 It will automatically activate when the lifeline goes below a certain level.
Regenerative Power and Health will quickly recover, and physical ability
will rise rapidly.
 Duration, cool time, Regenerative Power and Health recovery rate is

proportional to proficiency.
It was a tremendous explanation. More than anything else, the description of the
hero, Adele Kleimer, who fought against the devil, seemed unnecessary. Unlike the
name immortality, the ability of skill itself was not immortal.
"Is it because the skill level is still low?" he thought.
There was no skill that incredibly effective regardless of skill level. Such cases only
happened when the skills didn't require proficiency or level and they usually had a
clear limit. Then, it would be much better to have Level-dependent skills like this.
The existence of proficiency or level meant that there was no limit.
"I guess it is technically a higher version of Berserk skill."
Berserk was a skill that compensated for physical strength and strengthened overall
physical ability in proportion to negative conditions, such as physical strength and
bleeding users. In terms of skill used in crises, Immortality and Berserk were similar.
The difference between them was in the form of active or passive. Unlike the Berserk
that could be used at any time, Immortality was a passive skill that was activated
when certain conditions were set.
"Of course, this is better because there are no side effects."
Strictly speaking, Berserk was not a skill to recover the lost Health. It was only to
make the user feel as if he had recovered his physical strength for a certain period.
So, in the end, this skill made him feel more tired than he was the first time.
Immortality, on the other hand, was the ability to recover Health and regenerate
injuries. Besides, physical abilities would rise rapidly. Although it was a passive skill,
it could be called a higher version of Berserk.
Of course, he had no idea how much this skill would help his Health recovery or
Regenerative Power. That would be something he had to check from now on.
"But how can I raise the proficiency of this skill?"
There was only one way to come to his mind right away.
"Should I harm myself?"
A sigh came out. It looked like he needed to do it once, at least. To use the skill, he
had to know when it would activate or how much it would recover his health, and
how much it would regenerate. It wasn't a bad skill. He just was not sure how great
this skill was as its name.
"Well, then… :
Su-hyeun, who checked the effect of the skill, got up and opened the door.
"I guess I have to go shopping first."
"What did you say?"
"I said the highest potential potion! A catalyst!"
Su-hyeun said in frustration to the middle-aged man with a shaggy beard. He asked
Su-hyeun three times already.
The middle-aged man, who was the owner of the store, blinked his eyes and asked
again, thinking this question would be the last one, "You mean… the highest one?
"Yes."
"Why are you looking for that here?"
He thought his previous question would be the last one, but he asked again.
The owner thought this situation was very ridiculous. It was only the 21st floor. He
could not believe there was someone who was looking for the highest potential
potion. He tried to convince himself he misheard a higher grade. But no matter how
many times he heard, this customer kept saying highest.
"Why? You don't have it?"
"No, I have it…”
"Then why don't you just give it to me?"
The owner thought he might be joking, but it seemed like it wasn't. People usually
purchased a low-grade potential catalyst. Some rich people bought a middle-grade
potential catalyst. But this man was asking for the highest one. The middle-aged man
reached out to Su-hyeun. He wanted to make sure he had enough Achievement
Points.
[Achievement Point: 2,081,400.]
Su-hyeun was not joking. He had 2,081,400 points. He had enough points to buy the
highest-grade potential catalyst which was two million.
The owner could not believe it at first. He never thought there would be anyone who
would buy this expensive thing. He also never thought there would be anyone who
would get that many points either. He thought he would never take this stuff out
from the shelf.
"Huh, well…”
"What's wrong? It is a good thing for you to sell expensive stuff, right?"
"Yea. I mean. I am a little surprised. Yes, it is a good thing."
There would be no shop owner who would deny selling expensive things. He
hurriedly brought the stuff from the downstairs.
"Here. This is the highest-grade potential catalyst."
What the middle-aged man brought was a small, thumb-sized bottle of dark purple
liquid. The size and shape were not significantly different from other catalysts. The
only difference was the darkness of the purple. But Su-hyeun, who already knew this
product, recognized it at once.
[You have spent 2,000,000 achievement points.]
"Thank you for the stuff. Have a good day."
Su-hyeun took the catalyst and left without hesitation. He left the shop and headed to
a small inn in the city. He rented a room and went in. He opened the bottle.
Pop—
"Yuck."
As soon as he opened up the bottle, a terrible smell filled the room.
"I can't believe I have to drink this again…”
Su-hyeun had already drunk the highest-grade potential catalyst several times in his
previous life. It had the worst flavor ever. He could not believe this horrible taste
could exist in the world. He didn't want to drink this anymore. After he had drunk a
few more times, it didn't give him greater power anymore. He didn't drink it
anymore after that. But…
"If it is used for the first time, the effect is significant." Su-hyeun took a deep breath.
"I can do this. I just got to do it." He was trembling more than before he fought Fafnir.
Gulp—
He could feel vividly the feeling of the catalyst passing over to his throat. The taste he
could not use to it, no matter how many times he drank, lingered on his tongue. He
felt sick. He felt like he would vomit soon. There were many times people drank this
catalyst and spit it out again because of this flavor and feeling.
"Weck…”
He closed his mouth with hands and barely endured not vomiting. It was disgusting.
Gulp—
Once again, he swallowed the disgusting taste left in his mouth with saliva. He
swallowed the lingering flavor on his tongue a little. His stomach felt sick, but it was
better to not taste it.
There was no time to hesitate. Su-hyeun sat down quickly and began to concentrate
his nerves on his body. Now, the most important part would begin. If he hesitates
because of the flavor, the catalyst would be digested soon.
"I have to hold it."
Whiiip—
The catalyst that reached to the stomach after passing his throat started to react. The
key was how much he could melt this catalyst in his body. The catalyst was for
inflating the magic. It reacted with original magic in the drinker's body and
increased it. How effective it would be was depending on the individual's ability.
Even if it was the highest-grade potential catalyst, to somebody it could be just a
horrible flavored useless potion. It also could be the best restorative for someone.
Rumble, rumble —
The catalyst began to loosen little by little at Su-hyeun's will. The first thing he had to
do was spread it throughout his body. However, since the concentration was much
thicker than other grades of catalyst, it did not move as he intended. If his Magic
Level and Factor were lower, it might not move at all.
"Move."
Rumble—
The catalyst started to react. The catalyst that contacted his magic started to spread
the power from the stomach all over his body.
"Okay. Good," Su-hyeun thought.
It was important from now on that he slowly drew his magic to maximize the
effectiveness of the catalyst. If he drew his magic too quickly, the catalyst would
evaporate. At the same time, he felt the pain. It was as if his body was burning.
"Focus. I need to focus."
It was a pain he had been prepared for in the first place. Su-hyeun clenched his teeth
and raised his magic.
Rumble, rumble—
The magic, which reacted to the catalyst, gradually grew—the size and concentration
began changing.
"Good."
The magic wasn't done growing yet, but suddenly it stopped. Su-hyeun was
embarrassed and pulled down the moving magic.
"Did I try to make it grow too quickly?"
He had been thinking of increasing the Magic Level at the same time as the catalyst,
but it did not work well.
"Then… I have to confine it first," he thought.
The catalyst was worth two million points. He didn't want to blow this in vain. He
decided to keep it in his body before it started to evaporate.
Whoooshh—
Rumble, rumble—
The catalyst that was evenly spread through his body began to move to one side. He
led it to the edge of his heart. The blood circulation would help the magic spread
faster.
Zip—
Then, he encircled the area to prevent oxidizing the catalyst. With this, he did not
have to worry about the catalyst disappearing.
"I wanted to finish it quickly… Oh well."
It seemed hard.
"Since this is what happened… I guess I will melt it for a long time."
John, who was the owner of the inn, Makdallum, went to room 301. A customer was
staying there who paid to stay for a week but had been there for 10 days without
paying extra!
The guest had mentioned ahead of time that he would stay longer than a week, so
John didn't worry at first. But he couldn't stand it anymore. Not just because he was
behind on the payment but because also other customers started to complain about
the strange smell from that room.
"What is this smell?"
John came up on the third floor and frowned. It smelled like something sour got
rotten. He felt like his stomach would be turned inside out.
"Oh my god. What is this…?"
It smelled much worse than he thought. He had no idea what this customer was
doing in the room.
"Seriously…!"
Bang, bang, bang—

John knocked on room 301 roughly.
"Hey, man! What are you doing inside? You haven't paid for your extra days!"
Click—
Creak—
The old door slowly opened. John made a wry face. He was ready to nag. But soon,
his frown deepened. He wanted to say something, but he could not open his mouth.
"O, oop…”
The smell in the room was more putrid than in the hallway.
"Y-yuck…!"
John shut his mouth with both hands and hurriedly went down the stairs. He had no
time to argue at the moment. He had to find a restroom before he threw up.
"Umm…”
Su-hyeun looked at John's back. He expected this, but he felt sorry.
"How long has it been?"
The process of absorbing the catalyst took a long time. He thought it would take a
week at most, but he concentrated so much that he could not figure out how much
time had passed. The reason why John came to his room was probably the smell.
"I guess I should pay him some extra money."
He did not want to run away after he made the inn smell this bad. Su-hyeun
scratched his head and headed for the bathroom. First, he had to shower.
Su-hyeun paid the money he owed to John after John vomited until nothing was left
in his stomach. Although he had spent two million achievement points before, the
remaining points were more than enough to use on the 21st floor. When he paid
extra 3,000 achievement points, John's face lighted up quickly. That amount was
equal with what he earned running the inn for a month.
"10 days…”
Su-hyeun checked the remaining time after he came back to the real world.
"Now, only 18 days left," he thought.
There was not much time left. More time passed than he had expected. Since there
was a result, the time spent was not meaningless. Now, it was time to find a way.
"Should I persuade the director again?"
If he would meet him in person, he might be able to make up more plausible reasons
to persuade him.
"No… Probably not."
It didn't take long to shake his head for that idea. He knew the director. He was not
that kind of person. As Lee Ju-ho had experienced, the director concentrated all his
thoughts on his comfort. It was a wonder how he could manage to rise that high
position. He was not a person who could risk it.
"Now, what I only have…”
There was only one way he could think of. Although he told Lee Ju-ho confidently, he
knew his plan was stupid and ignorant. But this was the only way.
"I guess my secluded life will be over," he thought and scratched his head. "It doesn't
matter, though."
It seemed too early to reveal himself, but he had done so many things. He achieved
his goal, so there was no reason to hide anymore. Above all, there was no other way
he could think of.
"When things are complicated, it is best to face them directly."
Rattle—
Su-hyeun pushed the chair back and turned on the computer. He logged on Abyss
Online and left an anonymous post.
Click, Clack—
On January 17th, a new post on Abyss Online went viral. At first, everyone ignored it.
But the writing posted repeatedly, and it included detailed content. It started to have
many recommendations and became a sensation. Hak-Joon was looking at the thread
on his smartphone.
[Title: Anyang, January 31st.]
*On January 31st, 6:00 p.m, there will be a terror over Anyang City. Dump Guild will
create this terror. What is Dump Guild? This is the guild of terrible awakeners. It is a
gathering of the worst killers. They are just hiding in the shadows now… I am writing
it here, risking my life. If you live in Anyang, I recommend not being in town on that
day. I hope you don't risk your life. That would be very stupid.
"…”
It was clear how this article became popular. It was because of the Dump Guild.
"What do you think?" Jung Dong-Yeong asked Hak-Joon.
He was looking at Hak-Joon's smartphone next to him. The question was so obvious.
Hak-Joon replied, turning off the smartphone screen. "I think it is fifty-fifty."
"You mean the possibility?" Jung Dong-Yeong asked again.
"Yes."
"Well. I guess this person is not just a grandstander since he knew about Dump
Guild."
Dump Guild was a group that was recently mentioned among the high awakeners.
They were a large guild who secretly committed crimes. Originally, the gang hid in
the shadows, but as it grew, it was gradually exposed to the world. But, there were
only a few awakeners who knew of its existence.
"But… Why would Dump Guild will do such things? Isn't there a reason?"
"Yes. I think that evidence is pretty lacking," Hak-Joon answered.
He turned his phone screen back and started to read the comments of the post. Not
surprisingly, many people seemed to think the same.
-Dump Guild? What is that? I have never seen or heard of it before.
-Dump? I know them. It is not a fiction of an attention wh*re.
-Right. This is true. I think we should watch out.
-Will this writer be okay to write something like this? If it is true, watch out for black
cars and walking in the night.
-But why would Dump Guild do such thing? If they're a secret society like this post
says, why would they create terror?
└Yea. That is true.
"What people think is all similar. Right?"
"I guess so."
"At this point, I think some people will try to figure out who the writer is," Jung Dong-
Yeong said.
At Jung Dong-Yeong's words, Hak-Joon turned his head and looked at him. He
grinned dreary as if he was up to something.
"Are you…” Hak-Joon was about to say something.
"I just wonder who found these things and wrote the post," Jung Dong-Yeong said.
Hak-Joon was with him for quite a long time. He could tell Jung Dong-Yeong was not
smiling because he felt good.
"Why…?" Hak-Joon thought, "Why does he feel so bad about this writing?"
He couldn't tell why. It was a just post he shouldn't think twice about. Jung Dong-
Yeong would not be interested in other people's lives. He probably didn't have a
connection with…
"Wait… Is he?" He had a light bulb moment. "Dump Guild, Ares Guild, and Jung Dong-
Yeong…” The worst thought crossed his mind. He shook his head. "No, it couldn't be."
Jung Dong-Yeong sent Hak-Joon to the next dungeon attack site. He also adjusted his
physical condition for his trial. Jung Dong-Yeong, who came back to his office,
sprawled on the sofa. He did not feel good. It was even worse recently.
"I don't like it."
Jung Dong-Yeong brought Hak-Joon to raise him like a loyal dog. He saw his
weaknesses and treated him well enough to forget that he was caught. He treated
Hak-Joon better than other henchmen who had been together for a long time. But…
"What the hell is this fellow doing?"
Jung Dong-Yeong turned on his smartphone. On the screen was the post he saw
before. It was the same post that Hak-Joon read. He was surprised to see this article
for the first time. He could not believe there was someone so openly speaking about
Dump Guild.
He investigated and found who the writer was; it wasn't difficult. He just needed to
track the IP address and figured out the owner of the ID. Although it was illegal, it
didn't matter. Now that he knew who the author was, there was no turning back,
illegal or not.
"Kim Su-hyeun," he mumbled.
Jung Dong-Yeong received a report from the guild members and came to think of
Hak-Joon.
"I am sure… I saw them contacting each other often… Is this a coincidence?" he
thought.
The noise was increasing in his brain. Jung Dong-Yeong thought about asking to Hak-
Joon directly, but he could not do that now. He decided to watch what would be going
on first.
"Kim Su-hyeun," he said again.
It was urgent that he found out what his purpose was.

Act 2
It was on January 30th. The post spread quickly, not only to Abyss Online but also to
various SNSs. It could have happened because of one famous awakener. He
confirmed that the Dump Guild was an actual organization.
-A few days ago, Rank B awakener, Mr. Lee Ju-ho, who is also known for raising his
trial level, mentioned Dump Guild. Dump Guild is called the guild of killers. Does it
really exist?
-There is no clearer information about that yet. But in the opinion of many experts,
yes, this society may be real.
-Then, do you think Dump Guild will create terror tomorrow?
-Well. At this time, opinions vary. Even though Dump Guild exists…
Beep—
The director of the Awakeners Accreditation Authority nervously turned off the TV.
He raised his red face and asked. "What have you been up to?"
"What do you mean?" at the director's words, Lee Ju-ho asked back while he was
sitting on the couch as if he was bothered.
He sat with his legs crossed and picked his ear. It was like he decided to tease the
director. And if that was the intention, it succeeded. Because the director was really
upset.
"What is that interview! What the hell is it?"
"Well, since you didn't cooperate, I had to do it." Lee Ju-ho answered.
"But how could you sell the name of Dump Guild? What if they go crazy?!" the
director shouted.
"Even if they go crazy, they will not kill as many Anyang City people. And besides, we
can't cover it up forever."
There was nothing wrong with his words. Dump Guild was the organization that had
to be mentioned someday. Before they got bigger, it was clear that this guild had to
be publicized to root it out. But…
"That is all possible when the information you brought was true," the director said.
The premise was wrong. The director still did not believe Lee Ju-ho. He also did not
believe the source of the information was Kim Su-hyeun. In the meantime, the news
spread. There was no wonder that the director was in trouble.
"What? Why? What is wrong now? You don't have to take responsibility now."
"Are you insane? How did you make this so big with that stupid post?"
"Even if it is false information, there is nothing to lose for you, isn't it?"
"Dump Guild… Isn't it something you made up?"
"People will die because of either Dump Guild or monsters. It's the same."
"You've got to be kidding"
When the director started to rant, Lee Ju-ho finally set down properly and opened
his mouth.
"Well, things already happened. Will you now sell my name and announce that it
won't happen? Then what if the monsters fall into the city?"
"That…”
The director could not say anything about Lee Ju-ho's words. What if it did happen?
In the worst case, he might have to step down from the director position, because of
the words and actions he took in a fit of anger. With his word, they would not react to
prevent a sudden dungeon outbreak.
"But no matter what, other awakeners will not take action. Your words can be a piece
of news, but that is not enough to make high awakeners set out."
Lee Ju-ho was a pretty famous man. He was an awakener that showed up on the TV
quite a few times. So, it was not wired that his word and interview became news on
TV. There would be some citizens who would listen to him and evacuate in advance.
But not everyone would. Above all, the majority of awakeners did not know the
existence of Dump Guild. The high-ranking awakeners who knew their existence had
not listened to Lee Ju-ho.
"If you believe your words could move the world, it's a mistake."
Lee Ju-ho nodded calmly at the director's twisted words and ridicule.
"I know that."
"What?"
"I am curious. I just did what I was told to do…”
Lee Ju-ho didn't know much.
He just heard from Su-hyeun that the dungeon outbreak of Anyang would happen
tomorrow. Only Su-hyeun knew a plan to prevent that. Lee Ju-ho just called
journalists and released information as Su-hyeun asked him.
"What does Su-hyeun think? How will he handle the outbreak and evacuate people?"
Lee Ju-ho thought.
"Let's just see" —Lee Ju-ho, who had visited the director's office at his call, got up
from his seat as if he had nothing to say— "What is going on tomorrow?"
It was on January 31st. This day, it snowed all over Gyeonggi Province. The world
was paying attention to two things.
The more remarkable thing between them was Green Dungeon that appeared in
Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province. Green Dungeon was one of the most difficult
dungeons in existence. Numerous high-ranking awakeners participated to conquer
the dungeon, including S-ranked awakener Kim Hyun-soo. The success of the attack
was almost certain. The question was how much damage could be reduced in the
process.
The second one was about the terror attack in Anyang City, Gyeonggi Province. There
was not much interest in this part. Because there were many stories that it would be
just a rumor since people could not check whether it was true or not. Furthermore,
people underestimated the risk since it would be a terror to people, not a natural
disaster like a dungeon. For many reasons, the story about the terror of Dump Guild
was noisy only in Abyss Online.
"There are not many people who are evacuated, are there?"
-Yeah. One in five citizens evacuated after hearing the news.
Lee Ju-ho grunted and complained on a phone call with Su-hyeun. He suffered all the
troubles and warned people there would be a terror, but only one in five people
evacuated.
"Well, still more than 100,000 people have been evacuated. It is a pretty big number.
Since there was no evidence or anything."
-Yea. I guess you are right.
"I was very grateful to you. Mr. Lee Ju-ho, and I think the interview helped."
"Haha. You're welcome. Wait. Didn't you say your mother lives in Anyang, too?"
"No. She opened her shop in Suwon City. So, she moved out there."
-Ok. That's good. But still, Anyang and Suwon are quite close.
"Yeah. So, I sent her a trip today. You don't have to worry about her."
"What are you going to do with the rest of the people? I will be there since I don't
have any other dungeons to attack…”
"Do you know what?" Su-hyeun grinned while talking to the phone. "The terror was
not a lie."
-What?
"Now, listen carefully…”

Su-hyeun started to say something Lee Ju-ho. And…
"Are you out of your mind?" That was the most ridiculous thing Lee Ju-ho had ever
heard.
"I am in my right mind."
"The idea is good, but is that possible?"
"We have to make it possible, don't we?"
"It is easy to say but…” Lee Ju-ho thought that what Su-hyeun planned would never
be possible. It was natural. It was difficult enough to question whether it was
possible or not aside from intention or result.
"Anyway, see you later."
Su-hyeun hung up the phone after that. Now, it was time to start.
"Well, I am ready…” he thought.
He put on a mask and got up from his seat. Suddenly, he felt a sense of shame.
"I can't believe I have to wear this at this age. I haven't worn it since I was young."
Su-hyeun touched the character mask on his face. He sighed out and made his step.
"Huu—"
Gwon Jang-hyuk blew cigarette smoke.
He had no idea how many years he did nothing but kill time in a corner alley. Some of
the friends already left him.
"Damn. There is no one to take money from…”
He was already 24 years old, but he had no intention of changing his nature. After he
had been flayed once from the man he had bullied, he hesitated to bully other people,
but soon he searched for other prey.
"Hey man. You sure it will be ok?"
"What?"
"People say there will be a terror here today. Didn't you hear that?"
"Bloody hell. F*cking terror my ass."
Gwon Jang-hyuk snorted at the advice of a friend. He knew people were noisy about
terror. But he was just an ordinary man and thought that would be nonsense.
"Hey. What age are we living in? This is Korea. I don't know why people are making a
fuss about it. That was just bullshit of a crazy nut."
"But the awakener, Lee Ju-ho testified that Dump Guild is a real thing."
"So what? Other awakeners said that Dump Guild will not move by now?"
"But still…”
"Sh*t you, coward."
"Why are you so hard on me? I am just worried about you, man."
"Worried about me? My ass. You are doing this because you are scared."
"What? You wanna die?"
It was about time to Gwon Jang-hyuk started to fight with his friend.
"I was wondering what kinds of men are chattering in this dark alley. Was it you
guys?"
The four people, including Gwon Jang-hyuk, turned their faces to the voice at the end
of the alley. They wondered who he was--he had a strange mask of a smiling face.
"A mask?" Gwon Jang-hyuk thought.

It was not a masquerade; he had no idea what that mask for was. He could not think
anyone who wore those things would be sane. He was already in a bad mood. Gwon
Jang-hyuk thought it would be safer and more fun to beat up one person with his
friends rather than fighting with a friend.
"What the hell are you? Hey, you. Come over here."
"What will you do if you know who I am?" the masked man asked.
"You will be beaten to death, of course."
"Hahaha."
With Gwon Jang-hyuk's talking, the other three started to laugh. He laughed as well
and glanced at the man in the mask. But something was off. Usually, people seemed a
little frightened by now.
"Well. Do you think you can handle if you know?"
The man in the mask didn't look scared at all. The eyes exposed through eye halls of
the mask looked cold. And when Gwon Jang-hyuk met the masked man's eyes, he got
goosebumps all over his body.
"What… What the?" he thought.
The others also thought something was strange about this man. At that moment, the
masked man raised his hand.
Whoosh—
Swoosh, whoosh—
A huge fire rose in his hands and spread. Gwon Jang-hyuk and the three other
gangsters were flabbergasted and started to step back.
"W-what the hell is that?"
"Is he an awakener?"
"Why would an awakener be here…?"

Their anxiety started to elevate. The ominous thinking crossed Gwon Jang-hyuk's
head.
"Wait, is this guy…? No way."
"Did you ask what the hell I am?"
Swish—
The masked man blasted fire over his head and burst it like firecrackers.
Boom, boooom—!
Bang, bang, bang—!
The flames burst from the sky began to fall. Su-hyeun opened his mouth, looking at
Gwon Jang-hyuk. His eyes shined red reflecting the fire.
"I am a terrorist."
It was the beginning of the show.

Gwon Jang-hyuk and other gangsters started to run away. They even didn't look back.
Their commanding presences were nowhere to be seen. Like old times, they were
still weak to strong, strong to weak.
"Those bastards still did not break their bad habit," Su-hyeun thought.
He almost forgot of them but felt pathetic because they still lived the same. He would
like to break a leg or arm to teach them some lessons. But if he did, they would
probably be caught up and die in the upcoming incident.
"I guess I will take care of them later when I have time."
The firecracker, actually the Flame that Su-hyeun set off, was enough to attract
people's attention. Some might have thought it was a fireworks display, but as they
had already been warned of terrorism, that would be their first thought.
Whoosh, whoosh—
"Ok. Let's go," Su-hyeun said to himself.
Su-hyeun stamped his feet and flew high. He headed to Beomgye, the downtown
area, where most people gathered at this time. Of course, he did not forget to shoot
firecrackers on his way.
Boom, boom, boom—!
The sound like thunder rang out loudly. A lot of people were confused, and they
began to run.
A terror. By that word alone, people left their homes and started to flee. But they
could not see where the explosion happened. All the explosions were happening in
the sky, not on the ground.
“…Did you say there is a terror?"
The director, who had heard the news, jumped up. Kim Do-ui, an A-rank awakener,
who belonged to the country, nodded his head and delivered the news.
"Yes, sir. An explosion occurred in Pyeongchon, the most populated area of Anyang
City. As we heard, there are signs of terrorism, and people are evacuating."
"Holy sh*t… What the hell is going on?" the director mumbled.
Today was January 31st. Terrorism was not planned. Even if Lee Ju-ho's information
was true, there should be no terror by the Dump Guild.
"But the terror began? How this can be happening?" the director thought.
"I don't know exactly… But it looks like the act of one person," Kim Do-ui said.
"One person?"
The director, who looked puzzled, soon crumpled his face. He soon muttered in a
confident voice, "Kim Su-hyeun."
"Sir?"
"He is Kim Su-hyeun. It is that guy!" the director shouted.
It was a play pretending to be a terror. Kim Su-hyeun was now pretending to be a

terrorist to evacuate people.
"Do you think Kim Su-hyeun showed up?" Kim Do-ui asked.
Kim Su-hyeun was a person who had never revealed himself before. His name was
famous but other information, including his face, was not revealed. He had been
hiding in the shade thoroughly, but for some reason, he appeared to save people for
the first time. And he appeared as a terrorist.
"Kim Su-hyeun is not important right now! The important thing is he is in a riot right
now!" the director said angrily.
"But there is no loss of lives…”

"I don't care!" he cut Kim Do-ui's word.
Bang—
The director slammed his desk and Kim Do-ui closed his mouth. He knew well if he
said something right at the moment, he would just lose favor in the director's eyes.
"A Dungeon Outbreak? The devastation of Anyang City? That's nonsense. Before it
turns out to be true, he is just a freaking terrorist. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir. I know," Kim Do-ui answered.
"Then what are you doing? Go get him! No, you don't have to get him. Just kill him!"
the director shouted again.
That was too much. That was too much treatment.
"He lost his block," Kim Do-ui closed his eyes and thought, "Should I have to do that
far? If the terrorist who appeared in Anyang City is Kim Su-hyeun and his
information is all true… he should be called a hero. Even if it was not true, it would
be the same. What he is doing right now is hard to see as a terrorist attack. There
was no damage to life or any property. It's just an evacuation of people in case of a
natural disaster. Can that be considered terrorism? It might look like a terror to the
people who have no idea…”
"Yes, sir." Kim Do-ui said to the director. At least in his eyes, it seemed not to be
terror.
Click—
Kim Do-ui bowed to the director and left the room. The director picked up the phone
and called somewhere.
"Yes. It's me. Do we have any men left?"
Boom, boooom—!
Whoosh—
The fire burned the building. People screamed and ran away. Su-hyeun, who stood in
the middle of the city and watched it, scratched his head.
"I can't feel familiar with this…” he mumbled.
He felt weird acting like a villain in a ridiculous mask and afflicting citizens. It felt
like he was a member of the Dump Guild.
"I guess the Dump Guild will get angry about this."
The Dump Guild was a group of murderers. It was a secret society, hiding
underground. It had connections with some of the big guilds, but it still didn't want
to be mentioned. But Su-hyeun took its name and drew it to the surface. He even
pretended to be a member of the Dump Guild and caused terrorism.
Whoosh—
The fire in the building disappeared. The fire from the Flame skill did not even
blacken the building. As the level and his proficiency increased, Su-hyeun could
selectively burn the stuff he wanted. He did not have to waste his magic burning all
those buildings. Of course, those who did not know, ran away to avoid the fire that
Su-hyeun created.
"I suppose there is no one around here anymore," he thought.
Starting from Beomgye, Pyeongchon area was almost empty. News that the terror
began had spread to other parts of Anyang, and people started to evacuate from
there as well. Although there was only one terrorist, Su-hyeun was a high-ranked
awakener. And since he had warned there would be a terror by a group named Dump
Guild, his actions looked like the acts of an organization, not one person.
"It's now 8:00 p.m."
It had already been two hours since he started taking action. There was not much
time left.
"I wish I could move a little more, but…”
He stopped where he was standing and turned his face.

“…I guess it would be hard."
Whoosh, whoosh—
Crackle, crackle—
A lot of people appeared around Su-hyeun. Except for those who had come close, the
number of people who were watching from afar was large. All of them were
awakeners, not ordinary people.
"Huh. There was quite a lot came."
Numerous awakeners were mobilized to attack the green dungeons and other
dungeons all over the country. So, he had thought there would not be a lot of
awakeners left. But still, in this short time, quite many of them gathered.
"Are you Mr. Kim Su-hyeun?"
Kim Do-ui was the one who stepped forward and asked. He was the closest aide to
the director and was an A-rank awakener who was not mobilized in the green
dungeon. He was the most talented awakener among the people who gathered now.
Su-hyeun's gaze turned to him. It looked like he knew enough since he mentioned
Su-hyeun's name.
"Yes, I am," Su-hyeun answered.
There was no reason to lie now. He had been expecting his identity to be revealed
from the time he started writing on Abyss Online.
"Kim Su-hyeun?"
"What?"
"Wait, wasn't he a terrorist?"
"I heard this man is an awakener from the Dump Guild."
"Aren't they just the same?"
Except for Kim Do-ui, other awakens were frustrated and talked in whispers.
They had no idea this incident and Su-hyeun were connected. In a flash, the eyes of
those who saw Su-hyeun changed. They started to take precautions. The meaning of
that was…
"Was Kim Su-hyeun a member of the Dump Guild?"
"If that is the case, it would explain why he has not been revealed to anyone."
"Oh, shit. That makes sense."
It was a pretty logical conclusion. Su-hyeun was not revealed on the surface so far
and neither was the Dump Guild. Moreover, at this point, when it was known that
there would be a terrorist attack by the Dump Guild, Su-hyeun appeared. He was
even making the fire. It was obvious to everyone. There was no room for an excuse.
"Wait. Everyone be quiet!" Kim Do-ui shouted.
Kim Do-ui, however, had information the others didn't and had a different opinion
than the other awakeners. As the leader of the national awakeners' group, he quieted
others and looked around.
"As I thought, there is no damage," he thought.
Terrorism usually took on violent forms, such as murder, kidnapping, and looting.
Naturally, damages such as vandalism and injury followed. But the path that Su-
hyeun took did not have any damage. There was only a quiet street where people
had left. There were no signs of broken buildings, not even a single dead person.
"Your purpose… Are you doing this to evacuate people?"
Su-hyeun's eyes sparkled at Kim Do-ui's question. Kim Do-ui heard of him from Lee
Ju-ho several times. He was the only person who knew the relationship between Lee
Ju-ho and Su-hyeun, except for the director.
"Maybe this can be solved easily," Su-hyeun thought.
In that case, the situation would be solved much easier. Su-hyeun nodded and
answered.
"Yes, that is right. I hope more awakeners come here," Su-hyeun answered.
"More awakeners?" Kim Do-ui mumbled.
He remembered the story he heard from Lee Ju-ho. Su-hyeun was the one who told
to Lee Ju-ho that there would be a sudden dungeon outbreak tonight. Perhaps Su-
hyeun's quest was to prevent it.
"Didn't you guys come here to stop me?" But strangely, Su-hyeun said completely
different. Looking around dozens of awakeners, Su-hyeun continued to say, "You
guys will need more people for that."
"What?"
"You little upstart…”
"You think you are something because people compliment you?"
A loud voice came from all over the place. This was what Su-hyeun wanted. This was
better in this case. It was an intended provocation. The problem was cooperation
from one person.
"And to make him cooperate…” he thought.
Whoosh—!
With Su-hyeun's gesture, a huge Flame started to sweep all over the place. Dozens of
awakeners were quickly caught up in it. But the Flame stopped in front of them
without burning them.
"At least, I am the best here," Su-hyeun said in an arrogant voice.
Thanks to the mask, the expression was not revealed. But the voice alone was
enough to infer the expression.
"I need to bring as many as awakeners as possible," Su-hyeun thought. He looked at

Kim Do-ui. "How will he react?"
Kim Do-ui, who met Su-hyeun's eyes, could grasp his intentions. "Does he mean we
need more support, either prevent him or the possible monster attack?"
Su-hyeun's ability was more than Kim Do-ui had expected. As he said, these people
might not be enough. Of course, the situation might change if A-Rank himself joined
here.
"It won't hurt to listen to him now," Kim Do-ui thought so and opened his mouth,
“…Call more support."
"Ok, cool!" Su-hyeun uttered yells of delight in his mind.

"He has quick wits," Su-hyeun thought.
This man noticed they were understaffed to stop Su-hyeun. He found out he had
enough power. If Su-hyeun kindly explained his purpose and expressed his opinion
that he did not want to fight, there might be no more support. After all, that would be
revealing the truth that Su-hyeun was not a real terrorist. But if Su-hyeun kept
calling himself a terrorist, the story would change. To prevent him, the Authority
must use its force. The reaction to the terrorist would be obvious.
"And what I have to do now…”
Whoosh—
Slash—
Su-hyeun gathered the flame he had spread everywhere and pulled the sword. He
didn't need to act anymore. There was only one thing he had to do from here.
"I have to withstand an attack."
It was the same with Kim Do-ui. It was not sure whether Kim Do-ui moved according
to Su-hyeun's will because of his favor or something else. But since this already
happened, there was only one thing that Kim Do-ui had to do.
"Get him!"
Poof, poof—
At the command of Kim Do-ui, dozens of awakeners began to move.
Swish, swish—
Whip—
Su-hyeun avoided the spears and other unknown skills that had flown from all sides.
Sometimes he could not avoid, so he warded off or stopped them.
Whoosh—
The Flame surrounded Su-hyeun's body. It worked as a shield and blocked other
awakeners that were coming.
The concentration and grade of the magic of Su-hyeun was not a region that other
awakenings could invade.
"Possibly Magic Level 6… Rank A awakener."
Kim Do-ui, who watched other awakeners fight against Su-hyeun, coldly analyzed Su-
hyeun's ability.
"The skills he has are the rarest skills of the highest level. He also has basic physical
stats to utilize them. He also has quite good combat sense," he thought.
Skills, magic, stats, combat sense, everything could be called the best. Most of all, his
combat sense was remarkable. In the eyes of Kim Do-ui, the awakener of the same A-
rank, Su-hyeun's sense of battle seemed like an exceptional ability.
"It is almost unbelievable. Did he get any professional training somewhere?"
Su-hyeun did not attack other awakeners. He either avoided or blocked. It was purely
possible because of Su-hyeun's ability. He was different from other awakeners who
could only beat and crush.
"If I fight with him… I will completely be defeated."
He almost felt chilled. They had the same level of magic, but the basic skills were
very different. Compared to Su-hyeun, he just got stronger naturally while he was
climbing and climbing the Tower of Trial.
"Kim Do-ui! What are you doing? Why don't you help us?"
One awakener got angry while he was fighting with Su-hyeun looked at Kim Do-ui
and asked. Kim Do-ui, who had no intention of fighting, answered with a small frown.
"I am thinking right now."
"What? What do you think about?"
"Whether he is the enemy or not."
"What the hell are you talking about…?"
"You are a fool. You don't get it?"
At the blunt remark of Kim Do-ui, the man, who was asking him to fight, frowned his
face. Kim Do-ui clicked his tongue and continued to say.
"Is anyone hurt now?"
"What?"
"Or do you think you are fighting even against him right now because you guys have
good skills?"
The man could not answer at Kim Do-ui's question. What he said was all correct. He
well knew about Su-hyeun's ability. The big flame he showed at the beginning, that
was enough to show them that they could not do anything with Su-hyeun. If Su-
hyeun had decided, no one would have been alive by now.
"So, what the hell you want to say now?" the man asked.
"He is overlooking you guys. So, don't go overboard," Kim Do-ui answered.
It was a word that scratching his pride. But it was not wrong. The more they fight,
the more they feel that Su-hyeun was just overlooking them.
"Are you saying that man is not a terrorist?"
"Don't you think that is possible?"
"Hmm…”
The man looked closely at Su-hyeun again. No matter how many times he thought
about it, it was clear that he was letting them off. The damaged objects around them
were also due to their attack, not Su-hyeun's.
"Then why did you call for backup? If your word is true, it would be better to cancel
the backup now. Wasn't that a waste of manpower?" The man asked as if it was
strange.
If Su-hyeun was not a terrorist as Kim Do-ui said, the support he had called here
would be meaningless. There would be no way that he did not know about this.
"Tut…”
At the man's question, Kim Do-ui raised his head and looked up the sky.
"I did not call the backup to stop him."
"What?"
The man looked puzzled as if he did not know what he was talking about. But it was
still too early to answer the question. Kim do-ui shook his head and saved his words.
"No. Nothing. We will figure out soon or later."
Kim do-ui said so and turned his head. He sensed the presence of people around him.
Kim Do-ui felt about 10 people's senses and knitted his brows.
“…They came."
Additional personnel came for the backup request. Kim Do-ui, who had guessed their
identity, muttered to himself, "Was it their first activate?"
Not many people knew of their existence. There was a new institution made up of
some of the nation's awakeners. As far as he knew, this was their first mission.
"I guess the director is really pissed off."
Act 3
Swish—
A sharp knife pierced the Flame and passed the tip of Su-hyeun's nose. He stepped
back and increased a delicate distance. He looked around the newly appeared
awakeners. He already knew about them.
"They came," he thought.
He was wondering when they would come. He assumed they would start their
business by today. It was faster than he expected. Su-hyeun used Leap skill and
increased distance quickly.
He looked around. Unlike other awakeners that previously attacked Su-hyeun, the
ten people who appeared at this time were different from the atmosphere. Their
eyes were sharp-sighted, most of all, their postures were set. It meant, they did not
thoughtlessly climb the Tower of Trial, trusting their skill and stats. They had
received professional training.
"It reminds me of old times…”
Su-hyeun was once a member of this group.
"I should be careful," he thought.
He drew the sword.
Whoosh—
As the Su-hyeun pulled the sword, the Flame around him disappeared. Instead, the
sword that shined in gray, became red-hot.
"A sword…?"
"He was not a magician?"
The awakeners that were there previously started to whisper themselves. It was a
sudden change. Seeing Su-hyeun, who had fought with Flame skill so far, they
thought that he was a sort of magician awakener who focused on the fire skills. But
suddenly he took his sword.
"Is he a swordsman? Then, what about the fire he showed so far…?"
Kim do-ui was confused as well. The only people were not confused were the ten
awakeners that newly appeared. They did not see how Su-hyeun fought so far.
"Heew—"
Su-hyeun took a breath and closed his eyes. It was that short moment.
Swish—
Clang, Clang—
Several strands of chain popped out where Su-hyeun was standing. At the same time,
the new awakeners began to move.
Whip—
Boom, boom—
Dozens of swords and chains flew in a complicated path. Each one was quite a high
level of skill, and skill proficiency was also high.
"Weaving a spider web."
Su-hyeun already knew this technique, which was developed by several awakeners.
As so, it was not difficult to destroy.
Swish—
Slash—
The sword in Su-hyeun's hand, Gram, cut a part of the chain that was tangled like a
spider web. At the same time, the chain that had been tightly intertwined and
coming over Su-hyeun loosened. He squeezed through the gap and escaped.
But as soon as he escaped, the big sword came in front of his eyes. Su-hyeun as if he
was expected this, stretched Gram to up.
Claang—!
Crack, craack—
When the big sword and Gram stroke each other, the big sword was pushed by the
force and rose. It could not bear the strength and sharpness of Gram and started to
crack. The arms of the awakener who wielded the sword widely opened up.
"He is still the same. He is just pouncing, trusting his power too much."
Su-hyeun penetrated to front smoothly. The man with open arms shrugged with
amazement, but it was already too late.
Slash—
Su-hyeun's sword cut the man's chest. But strangely, there was no blood.
"…?"
The man looked puzzled. Su-hyeun did not answer the puzzled look. Instead, he rose
with the Leap skill. No one followed. The awakeners seemed to hesitate for a
moment, realizing that their pincer movement was not working.
Whiz—
Su-hyeun, who landed on the roof of one low building, looked around them. One by
one, their faces were familiar.
"I was…”
To one side among them, he could see the familiar face blurry.
"I was there too…”
He was Sung-in. It was Sung-in's face. Of course, it was a past that had gone.
"You…” The man who wielded the sword opened his mouth, looking at Su-hyeun,
"Did you know about us?"
Su-hyeun felt bitter at the man's question. It was obvious why he was asking this
question. The pincer movement they used just before was an attack that they had
been studied for a long time.
"That is a pincer movement to catch a strong individual or boss," Su-hyeun thought.

It was a well-organized attack, consisting of awakeners who practiced similar types
of chain skills and one with strong attack power. However, Su-hyeun skillfully
disregarded such a pincer movement as if he knew it in advance. Not only cutting the
core of the chain but also, easily defeating the big sword. The series of actions was
natural. It would be impossible if he didn't know ahead of time. It was only natural
that a man would have such a question. Of course, what he worried about was the
possibility of leaking the information.
"No, I did not," Su-hyeun answered.
It did not matter that he knew them. In the first place, Su-hyeun was in the same
institution with them. Su-hyeun was the one who knew it better than anyone.
The man stroked a half-cracked sword with one hand and said, "Really? That's weird.
It seemed like you know us well."
"Do you mean the pincer movement that you guys showed?"
“…Yes."
"Did you just assume I know you well because I destroyed that simple attack?"
The ten awakeners frowned at Su-hyeun's words. They put serious effort to
collaborate for a long time. But he disparaged their skill as a simple attack.
"You… What you said… Are you sure you won't regret it?"
"Of course. I won't," Su-hyeun opened his mouth.
It was obvious. Su-hyeun already knew who they were, what skills they used, and the
weaknesses of the skills.
Above all…
He continued to say, "I will be not an easy opponent to try your unfinished skills yet."
The man opened his eyes wide as if Su-hyeun's remarks caught him off guard. It
seemed like Su-hyeun knew their situation well. They were supposed to be veiled,
but he looked like he knew that they started to move for this situation.
"Maybe…”
The man with the big sword narrowed his eyes and stared at Su-hyeun.
"He does not want to fight us," he thought.
It was a sense of incompatibility that he felt ever since he came to this place. Unlike
other awakeners, Su-hyeun did not show any fighting spirit or a murderous spirit. It
was hard to see those eyes belonged to a fighter, but he could read determination in
them. He could not read everything from one's eyes but at least the mood usually did
not lie.
"Above all…”
The man swept his chest. He could feel his skin through the cut armor. If the wound
was a little deeper, he might get a fatal injury. No, Su-hyeun could have even split his
body.
"He just went easy on me. But why?"
The man of the sword, Kang Seung-Cheol recalled the director's words.
"The man named Kim Su-hyeun joined the Dump Guild. Go kill him!"
That was what the hot-headed director told to him. It was the first order he got, but
Kang Seung-Cheol was curious first of all.
"What kind of person is Kim Su-hyeun? Is he a genius as the rumors said? Or is he

just one of the lucky men among many awakeners?"
He somewhat could tell the answer after he saw him in person.

"First, the rumor said he was a genius… Then, what is he hiding behind him?"
He was curious and had to satisfy his curiosity. There was only one thing he could do.
"I have to push him a little harder," he thought.
Kang Seung-Cheol raised the sword again. He knew the first attack was his bad habit.
When he did not know the enemy's power, he used to rush for the first time. He
trusted his power too much.
"Let's take a deep breath…”
Sigh—
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It helped him to refresh.
Whirl, whirl—
He put his magic into his sword. Since he realized the enemy was not an easy one, it
was his turn to work with full force.
"Slowly, here I go again."
Whizz—
As soon as Kang Seung-Cheol began to move, once more, dozens of chains stretched
out toward Su-hyeun.
"They started again," Su-hyeun thought.
Whizz—
Along with their motion, Su-hyeun started to move to the end of the chains. The
chain stretched and narrowed, pressing Su-hyeun. When he wielded his sword to
encumbering chains, they were cut with a smooth cross-section. He aimed the cores
of the chains and cut them off. It almost looked like an unsurpassed ability. It was
possible not just because Su-hyeun knew the weak spot of the chain but also because
he had a sense that he could carry his cutting out very well.
"It's amazing no matter how many times I see."

Kang Seung-Cheol, watching Su-hyeun, wielded his tongue. He and his team got
professional training and also experienced actual training going through the Tower
of Trial. But he never thought that such a precise movement would be possible.
"Is he a real genius? Or did he get professional training like them?"
Or many be…
"Both?"
He stroked his big sword to Su-hyeun thinking about any chance. The short break
that Su-hyeun cut the chain, he aimed, and without a moment to hold his position, he
wielded the sword.
Boom—!
His power was as if the huge mountain falling. The big sword was filled with highly
concentrated magic of Magic Level 6. It helped to bring his Strength to the climax.
Strength was Kang Seung-Cheol's specialty.
Boom, boom—!
Rumble—
A heavy strength and the big sword pressed Su-hyeun down. It was a strong strike.
Kang Seung-Cheol did it with the intention of cut in half of Su-hyeun's sword and
body. But…
Crush, crush—
The big sword was blocked by Su-hyeun's sword. It did not go down anymore.
"What the hell…”
He had wielded so he wouldn't give him a chance to hold his position. As his
intention, Su-hyeun was holding the sword with no proper position. But he still was
not pushed away…
"He has more Strength than me…?"

He could not believe it. He focused most stats on Strength. And this guy had higher
Strength than him. Moreover, the tip of the sword started to crack again. In this way,
the sword might shatter and break soon. The difference between the sword was also
obvious. Stats, skills, combat sense, as well as even owned items, were superior.
"Isn't it a little scam?" Kang Seung-Cheol asked as if it was ridiculous.
Su-hyeun sneered as if he noticed the meaning of the word "scam." It meant his
sword, Gram.
"Why? Are you jealous?" Su-hyeun asked.
"Honestly, yes."
"If you win, I will give it to you."
“…No, thanks. It doesn't seem like it's going to happen," Kang Seung-Cheol said.
"Win him? To this monster in front of me? Absurd!" he thought.
It was a short battle, but he knew something for sure.
Kang Seung-Cheol was the only A-ranked awakener in his team. The other nine
awakeners were all B-ranked. It was enough military strength to attack a yellow
dungeon. They cooperated and pushed Su-hyeun as if they were one body. But Su-
hyeun was not killing anybody. He even didn't fight back properly. Su-hyeun could
enter the highest rank among the A-rank awakeners.
"If we want to catch him… We would have to bring at least twice as many people as
we have now. No, that might be not enough either."
Crack—
Kang Seung-Cheol stepped back from Su-hyeun and looked around. He had heard
there would be additional personnel, and it looked like the director worked quickly.
Other people already arrived.
“…That is a lot."
They were awakeners of the civilian guilds who were not put into the dungeon
attack. The manpower requested by the director was them. The awakeners from
several upper guilds ranged from C-rank to B-rank to A-rank awakeners. The number
of awakeners gathered there was close to a hundred units. There were many people,
it was enough to attack even a green dungeon. Su-hyeun also knew their existence.
He did not feel much embarrassed because he thought that there would be such a
large number of people in the first place. However, he could see a familiar mark
among them.
“…Ares Guild?" he thought.
He knew some guilds already. But Ares Guild was not supposed to be here. Su-hyeun
looked around slowly. His gaze moved to the one side. At that moment, his eyes met
with Hak-Joon.
"Why is he here?"
Their joining was certainly not on a schedule.
It was not particularly awkward, but he could not just accept the fact that the future
had changed.
"It is 9:30."
Su-hyeun checked the time with a watch on his wrist. The time had passed pretty
much. The stamina went away about that much, but fortunately, his magic was still
enough. Additional reinforcements were not necessarily bad news. Even if it would
be difficult right now, it would make things easier later.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Kang Seung-Cheol faced Su-hyeun and laughed
at him. "Now, will you fight?"
"I think you have been mistaken for a while…” Su-hyeun frowned, but his maks hid it,
and he looked at Kang Seung-Cheol. "If I do, you are going to die."
Shiver—
Kang Seung-Cheol raised his sword reflexively, as soon as he met Su-hyeun's eyes
through the mask. He felt like his neck would be beheaded.
"What, what the hell…”

The concentration of magic he felt at the instance was not something of A-Rank. So
far, he had thought Su-hyeun was just out of the common among A-Rank awakeners
that he just had excellence in the skill composition and proficiency…
"No way… Is he possibly… S-Rank?"
He thought that would be nonsense. He was only sophomore awakener. Being A-

Rank would be far beyond common sense. He thought there would be no way Su-
hyeun was S-Rank. Few people in the world ranked as S. In Korea, right at the
moment, there were only five S-Rank. One of them was a mercenary and three were
guild masters. One awakener belonged to the country, and he was like a leader in his
team. As an individual, S-Rank was known as they had equal power of a large guild.
That was the power of the S-rank awakeners. Su-hyeun's gaze turned to the newly
showed up awakeners of Ares Guild. And his eyes met Hak-Joon's eyes.
"Now, 30 minutes left…” Su-hyeun thought.
When he looked up, there was full of clouds in the sky. The clouds gradually turned
purple. It was close to the phenomenon, but at this moment no one cared about it.
There were close to 130 people gathered.
"Now, I will have some fun," Su-hyeun grinned as he was thinking.
Rumble, rumble—
Swish, boom, boom—
Numerous sword and spear flew to Su-hyeun. He struck them with his sword or
grabbed them. He tried to save his Flame skill. He decided to save his magic rather
than his health.
One-too-many fights always gave him a similar feeling. He felt like he fought with a
monster of 100 heads and 200 arms. Moreover, he could not even fight back with a
fatal attack. Su-hyeun's eyes cooled down quickly. Other awakeners who were
dealing with Su-hyeun felt the same way. It had been thirty minutes since they fought
one vs. many. Because of the battle, the buildings around them were smashed and
shattered.
"Don't you think this is strange?" Hak-Joon got closer to Kim do-ui and asked.
"What do you mean?" Kim do-ui asked back.
"I mean this fight. No one actually tries to kill the other side."
"That is because that man does not have a murderous spirit."
"You mean, they lost their will to fight each other?"
"You are doing the same, aren't you? Why do you ask me? I think we never met
before," Kim do-ui said.
"Because you're just sitting back and watching from afar. You must have been
ordered to catch Kim Su-hyeun from the agency, right?" Hak-Joon asked.
"Well, yes. If my thinking was wrong, I will just receive disciplinary measures. That's
all."
"Thinking?"
"I was not sure but…”
Rumble—
Kim do-ui raised his head and looked up. There were dark clouds over the sky. The
cloud continued to change its color, but now it had changed its color to green.
"I guess… It will really happen."
"Yes?"
"Look carefully—" Kim do-ui opened his mouth.
Even if he did not say that, people started to notice a strange thing. Hak-Joon, who
was standing next to Kim do-ui, looked up the sky as well.
"—the thing will happen here from now on."

The Hero Returns - 01

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The Hero Returns - 01

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영웅 회귀하다

The strongest hero of humanity, Kim Sung Bin.

He threw everything on the line and fought but… He still

But his legend has just begun as he returns 20 years into

Action Adventure Fantasy

The sight still came to him when he closed his eyes.

As it could never be seen again, it was much more precious.

"The past is the past."

[Name: Kim Sung-in] [Another name: Hero]

[Spell counts: 97] [Spell grade: 9]

[Fatigue level: 88]

"You guys are so fast." He was being sarcastic.

The reason was obvious. There was no more reason to resist.

However, that was not just another name for Sung-in.

"Spell power of 9 grade? Was there such a magical awakener?"

"For a guy like you, it may be."

"It might be possible. No, it has to be possible."

"Do you think he may be able to restore our world?"

He'd heard those kinds of words many times.

They demanded a lot of things from him.

"You are the hero."

"Please, please, save this world."

"Mr. Kim, you are the only one now."

Fafnir. An ancient hero, a dragon that was killed by Sigurd.

[Though you are my enemy, I admire your power], Fafnir said.

But that wasn't like him. That wasn't like a monster.

[You are the last one.]

The last. That was self-explanatory; everyone had been killed.

Even if his fatigue level was 0, it would still be a struggle to win.

Fafnir finally opened his enormous mouth.

[By eating your flesh, I will be devouring this world.]

"So, basically, you mean I won't be a hero."

"Thank you so much, doctor."

"It's rather awkward everytime I see it."

Back in the past, in a different person's body.

"I'm so hungry for anything other than tasteless hospital food."

"You want to eat out? I actually have to go back to work soon."

"In that case…”

"So this is Su-Hyeun's mother."

No, now she was his mother.

"I want nothing but for you to stay healthy."

"I believe you will do better than this."

Su-hyeun looked at his mother again, and their eyes meet.

"Why do you keep looking at me, Su-hyeun?"

"Nothing, Mom." He nonchalantly turned to attention to his smartphone.

"Su-hyeun, I feel that you've changed."

"You speak differently these days. More politely, I suppose."

"You're like a totally different person."

"Well." He wondered what he should say. "I've just decided to change."

Shin Su-yeong hugged him all of a sudden.

"Actually, Mom. I need to go somewhere," Su-hyeun said as he checked his phone.

"Where? You're not 100% well."

"Then don't be late." Shin Su-yeong waved at him.

"That always gives me goosebumps."

Of course, he didn't dislike it. Rather, it made him feel good.

"That was so fast."

"What are you saying?"

"I guess I'm right."

He checked a text message he got from a guy named Gwan Jang-hyeok.

—I heard you've been in a hospital.

—When are you coming back? I want to see you.

—Are you f*cking ignoring me? Pick up your damn phone.

"Did you bring my money?"