"[You have succeeded in defeating the unique strong opponents.]"
"[The activation conditions for your unique ability, 'Martial God,' have been met.]"
"[An additional reward is granted.]"
Additional Reward.
The types of rewards in the pouch are diverse.
They can enhance the reward originally meant to be given, grant an item, increase stats, or sometimes—
"[You have acquired the skill 'Mana Burst (D).']"
"[You have acquired the skill 'Iron Fist (D).']"
Rewards can also include skills.
Additional rewards are adjusted probabilistically based on the equipped gear.
If you're using a sword, the chance of getting sword-related rewards increases.
If you're using a bow, bow-related rewards become more likely.
If you're bare-handed, then the chance of getting martial arts-related rewards increases—
Just like now.
[Mana Burst (D)]
Type: Active
Acquisition Requirement: Novice
Emits mana when striking an opponent with a punch.
The higher the Mana stat, the greater the damage.
[Iron Fist (D)]
Type: PassiveAcquisition Requirement: Novice
When equipped with a martial arts-type weapon, Attack Power +15.
When bare-handed, Attack Power +30, and ignores 10% of the enemy's Defense.
Iron Fist is an extremely useful passive skill early on.
+30 Attack Power and 10% defense penetration.
Among early-game weapons, that kind of effect could only be found on Unique-grade weapons.
Of course, its limitations are clear—it becomes useless after the early game.
And as for Mana Burst…
"I didn't expect to get something like this."
A contradictory skill where damage increases with high Mana, even though it's in the martial arts category.
It's basically a skill meant for players who plan to advance to Mage,
and if you were going to use something like this, it'd be better to just use magic instead.
In other words, it was practically useless for most builds.
"Well, at least I got one skill that's usable."
But for Han Yuseong, it was different.
Because he had the Martial God's buff, which increases all stats including Mana.
"Still… I didn't expect to get an additional reward."
Han Yuseong stared at the mock workers, lost in thought.
Additional rewards are normally only given after defeating exceptional players, powerful boss monsters, or overcoming extremely difficult trials that are nearly impossible at his current level.
But mock workers weren't even classified as boss monsters.
And yet, he had received two additional rewards…
"Was there a named monster mixed in?"
Among monsters, there are some with special traits.
They're stronger than normal monsters and use unique skills—these are known as "Named Monsters."
The Martial God considered even these to be on par with boss monsters.
"What the hell? They put something like that in the tutorial?"
No one knew who had created the Tower of Trials, but it was clear—they didn't want anyone clearing the Hell difficulty easily.
And that made Han Yuseong all the more interested.
Because when a Named appears, it means there's a chance for additional rewards.
[The trial continues.]
[Second monster: Lv.15 Lizardman x 3]
The corpses of the mock workers vanished like mist, and this time, Lizardmen appeared.
They were about the same size as the orcs, but with long tails and thick scales covering their entire bodies, making for a striking appearance.
Each one held a spear dripping with blood,
and their gleaming eyes, filled with bloodlust, locked onto Han Yuseong.
[You are currently facing enemies too strong for your current level.]
[Buff "Giant Killing" is activated by the effect of Martial God.]
[All stats +7, Fist Damage +25%, Speed +15%.]
Before any of them could move, Han Yuseong had already launched off the ground.
He could feel mana shifting—
from his lower abdomen to his shoulders,
from his shoulders to his elbows,
and finally, from his elbows to the tips of his fingers.
It was right then that the distance between him and the Lizardmen vanished.
"Shriiek! KRAAAAGH!"
A Lizardman lunged at him with a spear, aiming straight for the kill—
But Han Yuseong's movement was faster.
He stomped the ground with force, pulling back his fist where mana had gathered.
And then—
BOOM!
"Huh?"
His fist drove straight into the Lizardman's solar plexus with full power.
At first, there was no sense of impact.
That's what the Lizardman thought.
Compared to the momentum, the strike seemed to lack real power.
Just as the Lizardman began to move—
KRA-KABOOM!
"Kh… urgh…!"
A beat later, the mana erupted, spreading from its solar plexus and ripping through its entire body.
CRACK!
The Lizardman's entire skeleton shattered instantly,
and it collapsed, vomiting blood, as if its thick scales were completely meaningless against the blast.
SPLAT!
Han Yuseong's fist smashed its skull in a single blow.
"Sh-Shhhriek?"
"Z-Zarkan… got taken out… in one hit…!"
Lizardbandle's eyes, which had once glimmered with murderous intent, were now clouded with fear.
To think that he, a formidable warrior, had fallen to a single blow from Jarkan. It was unbelievable.
Han Yuseong shook the blood off his hand and glared at the remaining Lizardbandles.
A cold smile tinged with killing intent crept onto his lips.
"Come."
His finger beckoned tauntingly.
With a terrified roar from the Lizardbandles, the battle resumed.
**
In the Tower of Trials, countless tutorials were taking place simultaneously.
Some players succeeded in climbing, some failed, and others struggled desperately despite having no real hope.
And watching over those players were many unseen eyes.
[Ah, not like that… Hah! How pathetic!]
[Is that the human you were paying attention to? To think you'd take note of a trash who can't even clear normal difficulty—your eyes must be garbage too.]
[Heh, did you forget that the human you coveted was killed by a goblin?]
Crude bickering, more suited to back-alley thugs.
These were the remarks of the Eyes of the Stars, watching over the Tower of Trials.
Lords who had failed to form contracts with promising players, and who now, with little else to do, observed the trials in hopes of snatching up any remaining talent.
[Really… there's nothing but garbage here.]
That was the reality of the watchers gathered in this place.
One of the lords let out a deep sigh.
Though he had meant it about the players undergoing the tutorial, it somehow felt as if he was talking about themselves too.
[While the other Lords are raking in coins just by teasing their oathbound from the sidelines, what exactly are we doing here?]
[Silence. Don't lump me in with the likes of you.]
[You fool, as if there's any difference between us... Hm?]
One of the eyes watching the tutorial narrowed.
It had seen something unexpected.
[Well, well. Someone's attempting the Hell difficulty.]
[It's been a while. Only those completely ignorant of what it entails would attempt such recklessness. Just another fool starting with nothing.]
[Hell difficulty... that no one has ever cleared…]
The Lords clicked their tongues.
Even the most renowned players from Earth hadn't managed to clear Hell difficulty. There was no way someone capable of doing it had just shown up.
Still, watching someone struggle might be entertaining.
The eyes turned toward the player who had taken on Hell difficulty.
And then—
[Hm?]
[What in the world… this is absurd…]
They were stunned by the unbelievable sight.
The player, obscured by shadow, was effortlessly cutting down orcs with just his bare body.
Then, using skills, he dispatched the Lizardbandles as well.
It was a scene completely different from what the Lords had anticipated.
[Wasn't that just now a skill?]
[A human skill, yes. But how is that possible? Has a new system been added that gives out rewards by stage during the tutorial?]
[No… I've heard of no such thing.]
[Then that means…]
There was only one possibility.
The Lords fell into a stunned silence.
[A unique ability!]
[But… is there even a unique ability like that?]
No one could answer.
Was it a unique ability related to martial combat?
Perhaps he had acquired a few related skills—that's what the Lords assumed, until the shadow-cloaked player put on a necklace, the origin of which was completely unknown.
Despite the fact that rare items were not supposed to drop in the tutorial—
[Did he just equip a rare item?]
[…What on earth is happening here?]
The Lizardbandles were defeated.
The monsters in the next stage fell to the player as well.
Now, all that remained was the final phase of Hell difficulty.
—KUAARGHHHH!!
Defeating the ogre.
The Lords watched the tutorial in breathless silence.
If he managed this, then even the last sliver of possibility would become reality—
[A human clearing Hell difficulty…]
Could it really be happening?
While everyone was still caught in those thoughts—
*
[You have defeated a powerful foe. Granting additional rewards!]
[You have obtained: Warrior's Necklace (Rare).]
[Strength +2, Agility +1 has increased.]
Han Yuseong dismissed the message that appeared in front of him.
The reward came after he had dealt with the Lizardbandles, and then the group of mixed Lizardbandles and Morks that followed.
[Warrior's Necklace (Rare)]
· Slot: Necklace
· Strength +1, Agility +1, Speed +5%
It wasn't an extraordinary item.
A rare-grade item wouldn't have overpowered stats anyway. But for Han Yuseong in his current state, it was an extremely useful set of bonuses.
Especially considering the opponent he was about to face.
—KUMOMOMOMOOO!!
A deafening roar rang out nearby, making Han Yuseong scowl.
"No matter when I meet you… you're always loud."
A massive giant nearly 4 meters tall.
A hulking figure covered in thick muscle, with arms as thick and solid as logs, and a massive club gripped tightly in its hand.
[Final trial initiated. Defeat the boss monster.]
[Final Monster: Lv.25 Ogre]
The green-skinned ogre was glaring at Han Yuseong.
Its single eye gleamed with hunger.
Han Yuseong let out a bitter laugh.
A level 25 ogre—he supposed that was at least somewhat fair.
"Human! Smash! Eat! Tear apart!"
"Yeah, I figured you'd say that. Stupid ogre bastard."
CRAAASH!
The enraged ogre slammed its club down, crushing the ground in an instant.
An overwhelming strength that matched its massive size.
There was no chance of winning in a head-on clash.
"That is… if I fought it head-on."
He had no intention of doing that from the start.
He would go for its weaknesses—ruthlessly and precisely.
Han Yuseong knew exactly what an ogre's weak points were.
He took a deep breath and clenched his fist.
A burning energy surged from within.
[This opponent is far too powerful to defeat at your current level.]
[Due to the effect of "Warrior's Will," the buff 'Giant Killing' has been activated.]
[All stats +10, Fist damage +25%, Speed +20%.]
The buff activated.
Still, it was nowhere near enough to overcome the ogre's strength.
His base stats were low, and this buff only provided the bare minimum power needed to stand a chance.
But that didn't matter.
"KUAAMAMAAAA!"
Because he had always fought in situations like this.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The ogre charged, shaking the ground as it rushed forward.
Its tightly gripped club sliced through the air, aiming to crush Han Yuseong.
So then—what was the ogre's weakness?
CRAAASH!
The club slammed into the ground with immense force.
The earth trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
The ogre tilted its head as it looked at its weapon.
It didn't feel the expected sensation of crushing bone and flesh in its hands.
Instead—
"Kuhhh?"
It felt pain in its back.
Like something heavy had slammed into it and passed through.
The ogre slowly turned its head, scanning the area.
And at that very moment—it realized Han Yuseong was already behind it.
"First, it's slow."
The ogre had overwhelming size and brute strength.
But in exchange, it had lost speed.
Some high-level ogres possessed both power and speed, but the one before him was not one of them.
Han Yuseong lowered his body almost to the ground, practically crawling beneath the ogre's strike.
FWOOOOM!
The club swept past just above his head.
Han Yuseong's body slid across the ground as if gliding.
Closing the distance to the ogre, he thrust his fist forward—
and drove a blow directly into the creature's knee.
The ogre winced and slammed its palm down with all its might.
"Fly! KUAMAMAA!"
The ground cracked, and stone fragments burst out in all directions like bullets.
The shrapnel pierced through Han Yuseong's body.
Blood sprayed as he was forced to retreat.
The ogre's left hand reached to grab him but swiped at empty air.
Han Yuseong kicked off the ground, closing the distance once more.
"And second…"
Magic stirred.
Han Yuseong clenched his fist.
His target: the ogre's right knee, which had already taken two direct hits.
"Its knee joint is weak."
CRAAACK!
The third strike slammed into the ogre's knee.
The monster roared in fury and lifted its left leg high—
intending to crush Han Yuseong like a fly as he darted away.
And then, at that exact moment—
CRACKK!
"Ku… what?"
The ogre's vision tilted violently.
At the same time, the sound of bones breaking rang out.
Its right knee bent the wrong way, and its massive body collapsed as if crumbling to the ground.
The repeated strikes had finally shattered its knee.
"Kraah! KRAAAMAMAK?!"
Because of its massive size and weight, the ogre's knees were naturally weak.
Han Yuseong had relentlessly targeted that weakness—and it had paid off.
The ogre screamed in agony as it sprawled on the ground, and Han Yuseong charged in.
"Y-You human! M-My knee! D-Don't come any closer!"
Han Yuseong sprinted across the ogre's fallen body.
The ogre flailed its arms in desperation to stop him.
Powerful gusts of wind swept through the air.
Though he had managed to bring the monster down, it wasn't over yet.
If even one of those hands struck him, his body would be crushed in an instant.
"Hah!"
Han Yuseong laughed in the face of the tension.
He had always lived on the edge.
No matter how favorable the situation looked, one wrong step meant death.
And now—
CRACKLE!
"KUAAMAMAMAAK?!"
He had always fought to claim his life.
Han Yuseong's fist came crashing down on the ogre's single eye.
A horrific scream echoed out, and the sensation of crushing flesh traveled up his hand.
The ogre's third weakness—its eye.
No matter how strong a creature was, it couldn't train its eyes.
"M-My eye! My eyyyye! I—I can't see anything!"
For a one-eyed ogre, this was an even greater vulnerability.
Clutching its face, the ogre let out a desperate, pained wail.
Han Yuseong stood atop its head, breathing heavily.
He didn't have much mana left.
He poured what remained into his fist.
"W-Wait! Stop! Please, stop! I said stop!"
It couldn't see, but it could feel the killing intent.
Overwhelming bloodlust radiated from the human before it.
The ogre knew that this intent would crash down upon it—and take its life.
That terror shattered the creature's spirit.
"H-Human! Please… spare me. I don't want to die…!"
In the next instant, his fist smashed into the ogre's skull.
Mana surged inward, flooding the creature's head.
But it wasn't enough to kill it outright.
So he would just have to keep hitting—until it did die.
Thud. Crack. THWACK.
The sound of flesh and bone being struck rang out again and again.
"S-Stop…"
It was, in the most literal sense, a one-sided beating.
Unable to endure it any longer, the ogre curled up into itself.
Even knowing it was meaningless, it struggled instinctively to avoid the blows.
Seeing that, the smile vanished from Han Yuseong's face.
"Tch. How boring."
CRACK!
His fist smashed into the ogre, and with a jolt, the creature's body went limp.
Its head had been completely destroyed—it was dead.
Even a mighty ogre, once stripped of vision and mobility, had no means to resist.
It had lost its life under a relentless barrage.
"Just a big lump of meat. The Lizardbandles were better, honestly."
Han Yuseong flicked the blood from his fist as he muttered.
The Lizardbandles had been just as afraid, but unlike the ogre, they hadn't given up.
They fought to the bitter end, refusing to lose their will.
As opponents, they were far more satisfying.
The tension had remained until the final moment.
[Mad Ghost.]
That was Han Yuseong in his past life.
A nickname that came from how he wandered like a madman in search of battle.
A berserker who would fight friend or foe alike.
Though—saying he didn't distinguish between ally and enemy was a misunderstanding.
Aside from Akiros's underlings, he never attacked his own.
"But… calling me insane… is hard to deny."
Han Yuseong was obsessed with fighting the strong.
Part of it was his desire to grow stronger through the power of the Battle God,
and part of it was simply the enjoyment he found in combat against powerful opponents.
To put it more precisely:
"Battles where your life is on the line."
He reveled in the extreme tension that came from that.
Han Yuseong always faced the strong under desperate circumstances.
A single mistake could mean death—true life-or-death battles.
He thrived on the tension born from those moments,
and the sense of achievement when he overcame the odds and brought down his opponent—
that was what he enjoyed the most.
"Was I always like this?"
He didn't think so. Not before becoming the Mad Ghost—or rather, the Battle God.
He believed he had been a normal person.
But as he tried to wield his unique ability, he naturally developed this way.
Or maybe… that instinct had always been inside him,
and becoming the Battle God only awakened it.
"Well, either way, it doesn't really matter."
That wasn't what was important right now.
Han Yuseong raised his head.
[Congratulations! You have successfully cleared the Tower of Trials.]
[You are the first to clear Hell difficulty. This is an unprecedented achievement. A fitting reward will be given!]
[Please check your rewards!]
The message appeared before his eyes.
And what it promised was more important than anything else.
A deep smile formed on Han Yuseong's lips.