Finally, his first item. Not magic stones or healing potions. Not special benefits or items bought from the Player Shop. A proper equipment item earned as a floor clear reward.
Equipment item rewards were extremely rare. They appeared occasionally in the Player Shop too. Of course, they sold out instantly.
“Lucky me.”
A Paladin’s sword, used by holy knights. But it looked incredibly worn at first glance. No scabbard, chips in the blade, nearly erased patterns on the blade, and a tattered handle. Yet it was notably large and heavy.
What would a gospel-spreading paladin do with such a huge greatsword? Spread the word with a blade? “Do you believe?” “No.” “Then die.” “Wait, I think I’ll believe—” “Too late, lost lamb!” Slash! Gack! Like that.
Looking at its description:
<Tower-exclusive Rolandian Paladin Commander’s Holy Sword>
- Effect: Enhanced damage against undead, Holy Flames, Steadfast Mind, increased critical hit chance.
- Limitation: Effects don’t apply against non-undead enemies. Poor durability requires repairs after use.
- Special: Bestows a subtle radiance upon the wielder’s sword and body.
Well, it has its uses.
Still, its limitations were clear. Poor durability, and just a regular sword against anything but undead. Wait!
Wasn’t the 60th floor range undead territory? He remembered hearing about that. Might sell for a good price.
Still, he asked Barbarian Gobang if he wanted it.
“Warriors use fists.”
“…”
This guy and his warrior obsession.
To Kozak:
“Oh my! Our dear Summoner Bong, I’m moved again today by your ocean-like warmth.”
“So, want this sword?”
“Hehe, I don’t need such a defective sword. Throw it in recycling.”
“…”
“What I use, this Wyvern leather armor and Dwarven dagger – they’re top-tier!”
“Right, right.”
Seems everyone’s too high-class to need an old sword.
Guess he’ll have to sell it as originally planned.
To sell the sword…
Have to go to the Player Shop,
Call ahead, arrange transportation, meet people there, negotiate the price…
Tch, too many procedures… I’ll sell it later.
He was planning to do repeat missions before the 30th floor climb anyway, practicing skills and gathering magic stones. He could sell everything at once then.
Wonder if it’ll even sell, being so worn out.
Still, before disposing of it.
Might as well try swinging it once.
Juhyeok stood before a full-length mirror with the sword.
“Hmm…”
Does it look okay?
Rather than him wielding the sword, he looked more like an ornament attached to it.
“Heeh, you look cool, Summoner Bong.”
It clearly didn’t suit him, what’s cool about it?
This guy must have been a sycophant in his past life. One who brought down an entire nation, at that.
Anyway, this brutish greatsword. How heavy and dull it looked. Wonder if he could even swing it.
“Nnngh!”
Gripping the sword handle with both hands, he tried to swing it.
Wobble, wobble.
Outside the tower, he was just a regular person without enough strength to even lift this. His upper body swayed, dragged around by the sword’s weight.
Wobble, wobble, wobble.
“Oh! Well done! Just like a holy knight!”
“…What are we buying?”
“I said holy knight!”
“Not buying anything.”
“Huh?”
Strange conversation aside,
“Besides, does this look well done to you? I can’t even handle the sword’s weight, just wobbling around,”
Even flattery should have limits.
“That’s quite good for outside the tower. Physical abilities and skills are restricted by level out here.”
Juhyeok knew this already.
“Tch, think the restrictions will ever be lifted?”
“It can happen.”
Huh?
What’s that mean?
“You’re saying the restrictions could be lifted? So we could use Player abilities outside the tower?”
“Yes. But impossible outside.”
“You just said they could be lifted.”
“Well…”
Kozak paused before continuing.
“When the outside world becomes the tower, restrictions are lifted. That’s the sign of doom.”
“Ah…”
That made sense.
The real world, Earth itself, becoming a tower? It meant the boundary between world and tower disappearing. Then level effects and skill usage would be possible.
“So that happens if we can’t clear the tower?”
“Yes sir!”
Well, it wasn’t particularly shocking news. Even without Earth turning into a tower,
What if they failed to clear the upper floors and the tower collapsed, creating a massive sinkhole visible from space?
New towers don’t start from floor 1. They start from the uncleared upper floors of the collapsed tower.
If they still couldn’t clear that, and the tower regenerated, collapsed, regenerated again, collapsed again…
What if Earth became a wasteland riddled with holes?
Whether the world became a tower or not, it would be ruined either way.
That’s why they had to clear the tower.
Makes me uneasy.
What good would it do if he alone lived cautiously, prioritizing safety?
Everyone would die anyway.
Even a wimp man had to feel this crisis.
※ ※ ※
Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Gwanghwamun.
In the basement of the building across from it was a quiet classic bar. Without even a sign, you wouldn’t know it was a bar. Only two customers, and even the bartender had stepped away.
One customer was Consulate Tomoda from the embassy. The other, though registered as a Korean Player… was actually a scout broker.
“They say they’ll consider it positively if we add a few more conditions.”
Not a definite answer, just a promise to consider it positively. But wasn’t this already something? Contact had been impossible until now. Getting a response was what mattered.
“What conditions?”
“Here, read this.”
Consulate Tomoda read the note the Korean Player broker handed him.
“Hmm, tell them we can definitely meet these conditions.”
“Yes, I’ll relay that.”
“Then when can we expect a definite answer?”
“Well, they said they won’t drag it out either way.”
“Ha! Are they comparing our conditions with China’s?”
“Come on, would they go to China? It’s just taking time to wrap up personal matters.”
As a broker hired by Japan, he had to say this. But China wasn’t to be underestimated. They were just as desperate.
“Anyway, you know, right? Until it’s decided, both sides must keep absolute secrecy.”
“Hmph! Do you take me for a fool?”
If the Korean government found out beforehand, all their efforts would be wasted.
“Still, I don’t want to be backstabbed. Make sure we won’t be disappointed.”
“Don’t worry. He’ll ultimately choose Japan.”
Consulate Tomoda nodded. He had a good feeling. He would definitely come.
“By the way… the 27th consecutive floor record dropped, right?”
“Yes, the media’s still buzzing about it.”
“Still no word on their identity?”
“Well, it’s being kept quiet, but it’s only a matter of time before it gets out… Why? Interested?”
“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t.”
In fact, he was very interested. He’d love to bring that Player to Japan too.
“But it’s not urgent yet.”
“Why not?”
“We need someone proven.”
Because they didn’t need S++ clears. What was urgent now was a Player who could clear Japan’s Black Tower’s 57th floor. Player Yoo Cheol-min, who had cleared the 65th floor.
If they got him, Japan’s Black Tower would be secure up to the 65th floor.
“If Player Yoo Cheol-min naturalizes to our side, a storm’s coming.”
The Korean Player broker agreed.
“Yes, both Korea and Japan will be shocked senseless. Just thinking about it makes me tremble. This is such a huge deal, I’m risking my life here.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll guarantee your status. Or you could come to Japan too.”
“Hahaha! Maybe I should?”
Korea’s star Player Yoo Cheol-min naturalizing to Japan. “Storm” wasn’t strong enough to describe it. The world would be turned upside down. It might even trigger a war between Korea and Japan.
War, huh?
Consulate Tomoda smirked.
They could definitely stomach a war. After all, if Japan’s Black Tower collapsed, it might trigger a second Great Kantō Earthquake.
Actually, Yoo Cheol-min was just a temporary measure. Though they talked big, they expected the 66th floor Specter clear would be impossible for him. That was his limit. They’d use him just up to the 65th floor and discard him.
The Player they really wanted was different. Though he said it wasn’t urgent… it was the S++ rank record holder. Had there ever been such a Player worldwide? Setting an unprecedented record of 27 consecutive floors.
Korea’s really lucky. How did they get such a Player?
From mere Chosenjin[1] with slave mentality, at that.
※ ※ ※
How do you check each country’s Black Tower clearing progress?
Simple. Players just ask the system.
“Show Korean Black Tower clearing progress window.”
Ding!
[Location]: Korean Black Tower, Gangwon Province [Completed]:
- Floor 65 [In Progress]:
- Floor 66 [Time Limit]: 92 days 13 hours 34 minutes 52 seconds
Like that.
At first, they didn’t know what the time limit meant. Or what would happen if they broke it. Only after Mumbai’s collapse did they understand.
As part of an Elite team, Juhyeok had developed some interest in tower clearing progress, but right now what lay before him was more important.
Only floor 27. Still far, very far to go.
He wouldn’t rush upward. Even solid stone bridges need a hundred taps, Rolling up Platinum badge cumulative benefits, Not getting hurt even a hair’s breadth, gathering everything possible, Climbing safely, then safely again.
That’s the beginner’s mindset.
No adventures. Know your place. Leave floor 66 to Elite Players with higher levels than him. Still half the collapse deadline remained, and the nation must have plans.
They’ll clear it soon.
After all, Korea had Yoo Cheol-min, a Player of the ages.
Right now, Juhyeok needed to focus on clearing floors 28 and 29.
“Welcome.”
“SS-rank Kozak greets Summoner Bong! Salute!”
“Gobang’s here too.”
Now he’s calling himself Gobang. Wasn’t that the nickname Kozak made up to tease him? Yet he uses it like it’s his real name.
Poor thing, so pitiful.
A barbarian warrior who died because people took advantage of his low intelligence.
I should find a Grade Enhancement Rune to feed him somehow.
[Entering Floor 28 of Korea’s Black Tower]
Jungle terrain. Not an ordinary forest, but a jungle dense with massive trees. Very dark with no light penetrating through.
[Floor 28 Mission: Eliminate 20 Jungle Trolls]
[Time Limit: Within 4 hours]
“Whew, Jungle Trolls. If I were S-rank, this might’ve been tough. No, even as SS-rank, alone, S++ clear would’ve been impossible.”
Understandable. Why Jungle Trolls were difficult. They lived in the trees.
Their bodies were smaller than other trolls, making tree-dwelling possible. To catch them, you had to climb up. They never came down to the ground.
“So is it easy now?”
“Yes sir.”
“Even S++ clear?”
“Piece of cake.”
“How?”
“What’s Gobang for? He’s surprisingly useful.”
Kozak patted Barbarian Gobang’s shoulder.
“Gobang, let’s start.”
“Got it. I’ll do it all.”
Seems they’d reached some understanding.
Gobang crouched, placing both hands on the ground. Like a sprinter at the starting line, Then.
“UWOOOOOOOOH!!!”
Gobang charged at a huge tree.
KWAAAANG! KUKUNG!
What was that sound? Did a bomb go off?
The massive tree shook violently like a vibrating phone.
WOODDDDDK! CRACK!
The trunk cracking,
Rustle rustle rustle!
Leaves showering down.
“…”
What the…? Mom, he’s scary.
Jungle Trolls lived in trees. Would their homes be ordinary sized? They were enormous. Twice the size of Earth’s largest trees.
Yet it shook from a shoulder tackle? Was he human? Or a tank?
He could make a living demolishing buildings outside.
How was Gobang just Rare rank? Even with low intelligence, shouldn’t that strength qualify for SS-rank?
“Summoned being Gobang! Weak, too weak. That all you got? No feast at this rate!”
“I apologize. Gobang will go harder.”
Once more.
Pitter-patter!
THWACK!
KWAKWAKWAKWAK! CRACK!
The tree heaved as if about to be uprooted.
Simultaneously.
Thud thud thud! Thud!
Jungle Trolls falling like chestnuts from their burrs.
“Good work. Summoned being Gobang, now feast possible!”
“Will eat good food.”
Now it was SS-rank Kozak’s time. He swept through the falling trolls. Blade energy lit up the dark jungle.
Slash, slashslashslash! Slashslash!
The trolls couldn’t even regenerate. He beheaded them as they fell.
“Next tree!”
“R-right…”
Though they looked sloppy from the outside, These two were genuine powerhouses.
The strategy remained the same. Kozak would point out a specific tree, and Gobang would charge it.
“Go! Gobang, feast!”
“UWOOOOH! FEAST!”
KWAKWAKWAK! CRACK!
Thud thud thud! Thud!
And when Jungle Trolls fell like chestnuts, Kozak would harvest them.
It looked simple but was far from a simple strategy.
“I’d like to try once—”
“Oh my! Of course, of course! Our dear Summoner Bong, do whatever you’d like!”
The reason Kozak readily agreed:
The Jungle Trolls had already taken sufficient damage from their high fall to the ground. Just walk up to the dazed trolls and hit them casually.
“All done! Hehehe.”
“Yes, we’re finished. Hahaha.”
[Notice: You have achieved S++ rank for Black Tower (Korea) Floor 28 clear]
[S++ Clear Reward: Platinum Badge awarded]