Throb!Creeeak!
Heavy pressure crushed down on every inch of Jin-hyuk's body.It felt like every blood vessel inside him was screaming.
Jin-hyuk frowned.
As expected.
'Is this the backlash of using an SS-rank unique ability?'
Until now, aside from Element of Fire, he had never used a combat-type unique ability.So he hadn't realized how punishing a high-grade ability could be—until now.
The importance of magic power hit him hard.
If he wanted to properly use Teresa's unique ability later, he would need far more magic.
Even with his current magic stat, it wasn't enough.
Another reason to quickly absorb the Frozen Tears.
'For now, I have to finish this fast.'
If this battle dragged on, his body wouldn't be able to endure it.
He gathered the remaining magic in his body.
Wheik!
Black energy fluttered from the tip of his dagger—the sword aura once wielded by the Sword Demon.
Even though this wasn't even one-tenth of the Sword Demon's true power…it was enough.
Chun Yuseong bit his lip until blood dripped down, but he couldn't feel the pain.
'Never… I can't accept this.'
He had trained endlessly.
Both in the game…And in real life.
But no matter how hard he tried,no matter what he did—
he could never surpass the man standing in front of him.
It always ended the same…
With the black-and-white death screen and a red line reading:
[You Have Died]
He had seen it so many times he couldn't even count.
He spent years giving up, letting go—
Until the day Tower of Trials became reality.
This was it.
A fresh start.A clean slate.
If they all started from zero…He wouldn't lose this time.
This time, everything would be different.
But…
Even after all the preparation, confidence, and effort—
Why?
Why could he still only see despair?
"I will not accept this!"
Chun Yuseong roared.
Soul Chasing Sword Dance.
His sword split into dozens of phantom blades.
1st Form — Soul Chasing Beast Sword.
Blue magic surged violently.
He swung.
Dozens of beast-like claws tore toward Jin-hyuk.
KWAKWAKWANG!
The ground ripped apart like paper.Dust exploded up in thick waves.
"Haa… haa…"
Chun Yuseong gasped for breath, chest heaving.
That attack consumed everything he had.It should have worked.
But—
A voice came from inside the dust.
"What kind of skill kicks up this much dust?"
Step.
Jin-hyuk stepped out, completely unscathed.
He hadn't blocked it.He hadn't tanked it.
He simply avoided it all.
"With that… you dodged everything?" Chun Yuseong's voice trembled.
Dozens of slashes.A net with no escape.
Impossible to dodge.
Even for him who created the technique.
"It's not that your Soul Chasing Sword is bad," Jin-hyuk said, "but I've fought someone who uses something faster and stronger."
Not on the first floor.
Somewhere far above.
Where only he had reached—The domain of the absolute ruler of the Tower.
"It's funny," Jin-hyuk chuckled. "There's no martial art stronger on the upper floors except the Heavenly Demon."
"…How do you know that? Did you fight him?"
"Even at the end, you're sarcastic."
Chun Yuseong drew his sword horizontally.
From above—
to below—
Jin-hyuk lowered his dagger.
KWAANG!
Qi and energy collided.
Blue sparks exploded across the barrier.
But it didn't last long.
Jin-hyuk's fully manifested Black Moon Night swallowed Chun Yuseong's strength instantly.
"Kuak!"
Chun Yuseong staggered.
He had poured in everything—yet the difference was overwhelming.
Not magic.Not skill.Not ability.
This was the difference between a man who lived in this world…
And one who merely trained for it.
Finally—
Thud!
Chun Yuseong fell to one knee.
"Ku…!"
Kwang!
The next blow knocked his iron sword from his hands.
It spun through the air and stabbed into the ground.
The victor was decided.
"I've won so many times I lost count," Jin-hyuk said lightly. "Must be over double digits."
"138…" Chun Yuseong muttered.
One hundred and thirty-eight times.
"Then next time will be 139. If you think you'll get another chance."
Jin-hyuk smiled.
Chun Yuseong raised his head.
"Next… time?"
"Of course. I want you stronger next time."
He couldn't copy from the same target for another 90 days.
But Jin-hyuk knew Chun Yuseong's personality well.
Next time they met—
Chun Yuseong would be even stronger.
And Jin-hyuk would copy him again.
'This guy is basically a walking buffet.'
Why search for new abilities…when one lunatic brought better ones every time he appeared?
'On the 15th floor, I'll take that skill too.'
Jin-hyuk grinned thinking about it.
"Kill me. Don't give me sympathy," Chun Yuseong whispered.
To him, Jin-hyuk's words sounded like pity.
Meaningless pity.
Jin-hyuk sighed and retrieved his dagger.
"As you know, the Tower isn't merciful. Rankers die if they get careless."
With players here, the difficulty was even worse now.
"That's why we need strong people. Especially people like you."
"Strong… people?"
Chun Yuseong's eyes shook.
Like a neglected son receiving recognition for the first time.
Jin-hyuk reached out.
And activated a skill.
[Lv2 Communion activated.][Hostility reduced.][Affinity slightly increased.]
Chun Yuseong grasped his hand and stood up.
"…You aren't wrong. But remember—next time will be completely different."
Jin-hyuk chuckled.
"Good. I'm looking forward to it."
Chun Yuseong began breaking the barrier, then paused.
"I still don't know your name."
"We won't see each other often. No need for real names."
'Hey, you,' 'that guy' — that was plenty.
"I understand. Then I'll call you the name I know."
…Huh?
Something felt wrong.
Wait—
"Don't call me that!"
"Captain Timo."
AH, FOR—
Jin-hyuk covered his face.
That stupid username he made as a joke…
Reality was cruel.
As Jin-hyuk wrapped up his fight with Chun Yuseong and gathered the items…
Another incident unfolded deeper in the ruins.
The raid party was resting.
"Cheon-hwa hyung! Didn't we clear all monsters ahead?"
A magic-type player asked.
"Yeah. Kwang-il and a few others swept them an hour ago."
"Really? Hm…"
"Why?"
"Detection magic is pinging. One or two dots."
"That's impossible. We checked three times already. Show me."
Song Cheon-hwa walked over.
It was true.
A single red dot blinked on the screen.
"Kwang-il must've missed one. That brat…"
Occasionally, ghost-types slipped past detection.
But then—
"Uh? Wait! It's moving."
"What?"
"It's heading straight for us! Fast!"
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps rumbled toward them.
Ghosts didn't make those sounds.
Song Cheon-hwa's face drained of color.
If something got past their scouting perimeter…
And made it here this fast…
This was no ordinary monster.
"Wake everyone! NOW!"
"A-All of them?!"
"Yes! Everyone!"
Moments later—
A massive 3-meter iron golem emerged.
And sitting casually on its shoulder—
A white-haired man.
"Hmm. Hello, humans?"
A gentle, melodic voice.
But the smile was terrifying.
"Y-You can talk?!"
"Oh no… it's an intelligent monster!"
"Not just that—an iron golem! Weapons won't work on that!"
The players whispered in panic.
Monsters with high intelligence were nightmares.
Humanoid ones were the worst.
"You… are you the master of these ruins?" Song Cheon-hwa asked.
"Hahaha. No. My name is Belus. I am one of the blood race—servants of the true master of these ruins."
"Blood race…?"
Song Cheon-hwa's eyes widened.
"No…"
There was only one monster known for beauty and intelligence.
"Vampire…"
And if that was true…
Then the master of these ruins was…
A True Ancestor.
One of the strongest beings in the Tower of Trials.
'We're dead…'
A True Ancestor on the first floor?
No chance. None.
"What… do you want?" Song Cheon-hwa asked, barely holding his shield steady.
Belus smiled, stepping down lightly from the golem's shoulder.
"I came to offer you a choice."
"Choice…?"
"Two options."
Belus raised his hand.
Red magic swirled.
"First—come quietly."
The magic swelled.
"Or second—after killing half of you as an example… I'll take the rest like cattle."
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