A YouTube video showing a man presumed to be Chinese sprinting through Tiananmen Square at incredible speed.
He was so fast that you almost missed him as he passed.
Shooo!—and in an instant, he was reduced to a tiny black dot.
You had to play the video in slow motion just to make him out.
Honestly, it wasn't all that shocking.
Was this really the first time something like this had happened?
ㄴWith this, the Korea–China–Japan trilogy is complete.
ㄴWhat are you talking about?
ㄴThe Korean hotel terror suppression incident, the old man schooling Japan's anti-Korean protestors, and now the Tiananmen Square sprinter in China.
But there was a key difference this time.
Unlike the previous videos, the identity of the Tiananmen Square runner had been revealed.
ㄴWe don't know who the ones in Korea and Japan were, but we know the guy in the China video.
ㄴWho is he?
ㄴBailong, who was once China's top-ranked player.
ㄴOh, I've heard that name.
ㄴI searched him and his face popped up right away. Chinese communities say it's definitely Bailong.
ㄴAnd apparently Bailong was the one who cleared the 71st floor this time too.
ㄴSo he's the player who grabbed the four-item set?
ㄴIs him running that fast because of the four-item set?
ㄴNo, rejuvenation, disease cure, and form transformation don't make you run faster.
ㄴWhy are you leaving one item out?
ㄴAh! The Rune Necklace of Liberation?
ㄴYeah, that one. For reference, Bailong's trait is [Rapid Speed]. He mentioned it in an interview with Chinese media a year ago.
ㄴDon't tell me—
ㄴYeah, you're thinking exactly what I'm thinking.
ㄴLiberation means releasing player abilities?
ㄴProbably. They said it can be used three times.
ㄴHoly shit. A player using their abilities freely in the real world?
ㄴThat's insane.
The true nature of the Rune Necklace of Liberation.
It releases a player's abilities into reality.
That wasn't a reckless guess.
If anything, it was the most reasonable hypothesis.
It explained everything perfectly.
ㄴThen were the Korean hotel terror suppression incident and the Japanese anti-Korean protest crackdown also because of that item?
ㄴBut the Rune Necklace of Liberation is supposed to be a gift from the 71st floor.
ㄴIf someone got an S++ clear, couldn't they have obtained it early?
ㄴThat actually makes sense. The mystery's solved now.
The global community erupted.
If this was how ordinary people reacted, how must governments around the world be feeling?
There is no way for nations to stop players from climbing the tower.
Tower progression is entirely the player's choice.
Anyone who is the first to reach their country's 71st floor obtains the four-item set.
The only saving grace is that there exists a defensive line.
Namely, the mid-to-late 60th-floor undead zone.
In other words, without a holy sword, recklessly challenging the undead zone is impossible.
Fail to cross the undead zone, and reaching the 71st floor is impossible.
It is both the limit and the defensive line of ordinary players.
But what if the undead zone were neutralized?
The world would plunge into uncontrollable, total chaos.
When was it?
A conversation I had with Kosak.
When I asked whether the monsters on the 71st floor were that strong.
He said they were difficult to deal with.
That he never expected enemies like that.
The truth was, it all started in the late 60s.
Only now did everything click.
From Death Knights and Liches, to the 70th-floor boss, the High Demon Kabalran.
The first intelligent beings humanity ever faced.
That was just a preview.
A warning that the targets of future tower clears would be intelligent beings—
That is, humans.
Are they truly humans from another world?
Or merely monsters wearing human skins?
And is it really valid to place mercenary members and tower monsters on the same level?
"What's the difference between humans and monsters anyway? The minotaurs we killed might've been family men—fathers with households of their own."
What kind of nonsense is this now?
"They're working hard on the 35th floor, and then a phone call comes in saying their minotaur calf daughter is hungry."
How does a minotaur even make phone calls?
Anyway, let's roll with it.
"They pack up an expensive box of seasoned hay and head home from work, and then suddenly Bardin shows up yelling 'Oh light!!!' and smash!—cracks the father minotaur's skull. How would that feel?"
Hmm.
Strangely enough, the scene vividly formed in my head.
It was… tragic.
"How sad would the minotaur calf daughter be? Because of a wicked human, she becomes a child without a father."
"Bardin, you're a terrible person."
"I'm a factory for orphans, am I?"
Bardin protested indignantly, shouting Why me?!
"There are tons of humans worse than minotaurs."
That's true.
"For example, imagine you're walking alone on a dark mountain road and run into someone."
"Uh-huh, and?"
"Would you be more scared of a human, or a monster?"
"A monster."
"…Oh? Uh, um—y-yes, that's right."
"So what are you trying to say?"
"Huh?"
Seeing the confused look on Kosak's face, Gyeon Dallae let out a deep sigh.
"Haah… Kosak-nim, please just stay quiet from now on. Don't say weird things."
Then she continued.
"Young Master, humans are beings that must not be discriminated against."
Right.
That's something you learn in elementary school.
"However, if we slaughter monsters inside the tower without hesitation but refuse to kill humans, isn't that discrimination as well?"
"..."
She's usually on a roll, then suddenly says something strange.
"We must kill fairly. I believe that is the proper attitude of a player who seeks equality."
Well, the logic is weird, but the point is that humans and monsters are no different.
"A warrior is equal. One hit for monsters, one hit for humans."
"Huh?"
"Beastmen too—one hit."
"Huhk!"
Let's go out first and decide.
The mission can be reset anytime anyway.
"A warrior leads the way."
Gobang grabbed the doorknob instead,
Creak—and opened the door.
His soulmate Bardin followed behind.
Then Kosak, Veronica, Rajiks riding Blood Wolf, Juhyeok, and Gyeon Dallae in that order.
The moment they stepped outside, a scene came into view.
A small village.
Surrounded by mountains—probably a mountain hamlet.
But the stench of blood assaulted their noses, and shouts and screams rang in their ears.
It was chaos.
"Kill the old ones!"
"Kill everyone except children under ten!"
"Leave the women!"
"Get them!"
What the hell?
Villagers fleeing.
Mercenaries wielding blades.
They were easy to distinguish.
Above their heads floated nameplates, just like in a game.
Things like:
"Mercenary members?"
They're not mercenaries.
They're just bandits with swords.
Villagers collapsed, bleeding.
Terrified children scattered in panic.
Rough-looking mercenaries chased after them with crazed expressions.
"…Ah."
Juhyeok saw it clearly too.
A middle-aged woman holding children close, shielding them with her body.
A bastard of a mercenary raising his blade to kill her.
It was happening right in front of his eyes.
How could anyone look away from that?
If he did nothing, he wouldn't just be a weak man—he wouldn't even qualify as human, just a piece of trash.
Juhyeok shouted reflexively.
"Kosak! Hurry—"
Before he could even finish speaking, Kosak was already moving.
Spot! A gust of wind—
He appeared behind the mercenary about to kill the woman.
Tsipit! Slash! Thud!
The mercenary's head vanished from his shoulders, and the body toppled like a log.
Thump!
The first time is the hardest.
But the first time had already passed.
So what about the second?
"Ah, fuck it! Clear them!!!"
The summoner's declaration to commence the clear.
That single sentence was enough.
There was no need for detailed orders.
Giant Gobang thundered forward.
He grabbed a mercenary with a nameplate over his head.
"Huh?! A m-monster…?!"
Crunch!
"Aaaargh!"
He folded him in half.
"Light!!!"
Radiant Bardin crushed a mercenary's skull with his flail.
Boom!
Blood Wolf went berserk as well.
Riding atop Blood Wolf, Rajiks swung his golden pickaxe, roaring a thunderous battle cry.
"Hueeeek!"
Crunch!
The Pommel mercenaries' necks were torn out by Blood Wolf's jaws.
In no time at all, the scene turned into a massacre.
Pommel Mercenary Corps members dying one after another.
"Aaaargh!"
"W-what are these guys?!"
"P-please spare me!!!"
"…Damn it!"
It felt heavy.
There was definitely a big difference compared to clearing monsters.
Gyeon Dallae quietly approached and tightly held Juhyeok's hand.
She knew.
She knew how soft his heart was.
Juhyeok held her hand in return.
Don't worry.
I don't regret this.
If he had just looked away and abandoned the mission, he would've regretted that even more.
What? Troublesome?
Yeah, it was troublesome.
How could anyone not be shaken when told they had to kill people to clear a mission?
But the hesitation vanished completely.
These were people who deserved to die.
This was just.
There must be no guilt.
This is the inside of the tower, where real-world laws and ethics don't apply.
If he felt guilty?
Then the summoned beings would be the ones doing something wrong.
Juhyeok never looked away.
Even if it was still difficult to jump in personally, he could not avert his eyes.
For his own sake.
And for the sake of his summoned beings.
Soon—
[Pommel Mercenary Corps members defeated 20/20]
[You have succeeded in the 71st floor basic mission.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Reward: Magic Stones 1.1 kg / High-grade Magic Stones 6 kg]
Mission complete.
No rank evaluation?
But then—
[Would you like to continue the additional optional mission?]
[If you decline, the mission will be marked as successful and you will exit the tower.]
The additional optional mission was to defeat James, vice-captain of the Pommel Mercenary Corps.
Since we're here, might as well finish it.
"Proceed."
At that moment, a man came out of what looked like the largest house in the village.
He had a huge sack slung over his shoulder—loot, by the looks of it.
"Huh?! W-what is this?!"
The nameplate read:
And then—
[Would you like to check James's information?]
You can check his information?
Of course I should.
"Check information."
Rank: R- (Lower Rare)
Type: Mercenary (Human)
It was much briefer than the catalog, but the rank and type were clear.
Seems like things are more finely categorized.
Rare, but R-—a lower-tier Rare.
"Then maybe…?"
Juhyeok stared intently at James.
And then—
James and Pommel were childhood friends from the same village. One day, James and Pommel jointly raped and murdered a young woman they both desired, then fled the village and went elsewhere, founding the Pommel Mercenary Corps. Though called a mercenary corps, it was no different from a bandit group.
A background description appeared.
"Why even show the background?"
Is this the system telling me, He's trash, kill him without hesitation?
If that was the intention, it worked.
"A rapist and a murderer."
"Kill him?"
What, let him live?
"I almost feel sorry for monsters. We've killed countless monsters—why would this bastard be an exception?"
And then—
"Aaaah!"
James turned and fled. He didn't get far.
Pashuk! Bang!
Veronica's magic bullet blew out the back of his head.
[Additional optional mission completed.]
[Reward: Multinational Tower Access Ticket.]
…There was a reward for the additional mission too?
The Multinational Tower Access Ticket entered the inventory.
They said the reward probability was greatly increased—looks like it really was.
Then—
[Would you like to continue the high-difficulty optional mission?]
"Proceed."
The reward mattered, but the real purpose was delivering justice.
Pommel had to be a bastard too—no doubt about it.
In that instant—
Another man came out of the same house James had exited.
He was dragging a half-naked woman by the hair.
"Damn bitch! You dare resist? Let's see how you like it when I toss you naked to my men—huh?"
I knew it. Worse than a dog.
"Who are you people?"
Who else?
A weak man here to deliver justice.
Rank: R++ (Upper Rare)
Type: Mercenary (Human)
Pommel personally committed over one hundred murders before becoming the captain of the mercenary corps. He came to the slash-and-burn settlement in the Taunt Mountains after accepting a request from the necromancer Kate to search for sacrifices for the resurrection of a super-demonic beast. The intended sacrifices were children under the age of ten.
"Y-you—"
Raping women, murder, kidnapping children.
Juhyeok pointed at Pommel and said,
"A harmful monster."
Kosak responded immediately.
"I'll take him."
"My lord, grant me the honor of carrying out the mission."
Why send just one?
"Both of you go."
Spot! Swaeaeek!
"W-what is this?!"
Pommel panicked.
What in the world was going on?
How could monsters like these exist in a slash-and-burn mountain village?
Even so, he wasn't about to go down without a fight.
Shrrrng—he drew his sword.
Woooong!
Sword qi erupted as he swung at the one charging in first—
Tsipit!
"…Huh?!"
There was no sensation at all.
He'd only sliced empty air.
Slash! The sound of something being cut.
Thud! His own right arm fell to the ground.
"Uh…"
Then, immediately after—
Swaeaeek!
A knight clad in chilling spiked armor slammed into him—
Boom! A brutal body check.
"Gyaaaaargh!"
Pommel's entire body was impaled by the spiked armor.
Crimson blood poured from the holes.
"S-spare m—"
But the pain didn't last long.
Slash!
[High-difficulty optional mission completed.]
[Reward: Club of Destructive Thunderstorm.]
"…"
The rewards really are generous.
Just clear it and you get them.
There isn't even a tower-only modifier on it.
[Would you like to continue the ultra-high-difficulty optional mission?]
Swift and decisive.
"Proceed."
That was when—
"Oh my, oh dear? What a mess. I'll get scolded by Master again at this rate."
This time, it was the sky.
A woman in a red robe floated leisurely in midair.
Rank: SR- (Lower Super Rare)
Type: Necromancer (Human)
A black mage this time?
"You guys look pretty strong, huh? Right? No way I could take you all alone."
Kate is a 5-circle necromancer. Acting on the orders of her master, Noma—a necromancer of the 8th circle—she was tasked with collecting the living souls of children. It was a grand undertaking to summon a super-demonic beast's spirit. At least 1,000 children's souls were required. Now, only 15 souls remained to complete it.
A wicked bitch.
Monsters are cute by comparison.
"I'm not an idiot. Why would I fight you?"
When did anyone say we were fighting?
"I've memorized all your faces. I'll come back with Master Noma and kill you—tear you apart and feed you to the chimera I'm raising. So, see you next time. Bye."
Shrrrk!
Kate slid away through the air, fleeing with Fly magic.
And where do you think you're running off to?
"Senior Veronica."
"Senior Officer Veronica Caliber."
"Take her out."
"Certain victory!"
Standing firing posture, right on the spot.
"Loading one high-explosive round. Target is that bitch."
Jiiiiing!
The magic rifle glowed white-hot.
Bajujjuuuuk!!!
Whoosh!
Like a guided missile, Veronica's high-explosive round chased after the fleeing necromancer Kate.
"W-what is that?!"
Whoom! A protective barrier formed around Kate's body.
At the same time—
"Blink."
Spot! She teleported instantly.
But Veronica's magic rifle was fundamentally equipped with a tracking function.
Swaeaeek!
The shell curved midair and relentlessly pursued Kate.
"B-blink!"
Spot!Swaeek!
"…What? Why does it keep following me?!"
Kate panicked.
"Blink, blink, blink…"
Spot! Spot! Spot!
However—
Jiiiiing! Bajujjuuuuk!!!
Another high-explosive round was fired.
"Blink—"
Kate's eyes widened.
At her destination, directly in front of her, was the shell.
Boom!Kraaaash!
Kate's body exploded like fireworks upon impact.
Splatter!
Blood and flesh rained down like sleet.
[All missions on the 71st floor have been completed.]
[Reward: Potion of Valor / Tower-exclusive Holy Water (聖水).]
"Hm."
Two rewards.
One without a tower-exclusive modifier, one with it…
"Holy water?"
[Calculating clear rank.]
"Ah!"
[World Announcement: You have achieved an S+++ clear rank on the Black Tower (Korea) 71st floor.]
A world announcement.
S+++ rank. Triple plus.
"…Holy shit."
There was a rank above S++.
[S+++ Clear Reward: You are granted 2 Platinum Badges.]
Wow—two badges at once.
Looks like S+++ gives two.
I had 79 total so far, so with two more, that makes 81.
"I'll get a perk."
What will it be?
I'm looking forward to it.
Let's heal the wounded soul of a weak man with a perk.
[You may now challenge the 72nd floor.]
[Exiting the Black Tower (Korea).]