The next morning
The sunlight quietly slipped over the balcony of the sea-facing apartment.
A light breeze, the scent of fresh coffee, and the distant sound of waves.
Suho, Kevin, and Reinhart sat around a small breakfast table.
Kevin was… completely absorbed.
Kevin (chewing):
— This… craaaanch… is delicious.
Reinhart looked around in open amazement.
The house was elegant and spacious, modern appliances everywhere, and a sports car gleaming beneath the balcony.
Reinhart:
— I'm honestly surprised… did you buy all of this yourself?
— The house, the car, the appliances… even your clothes—your taste is refined.
Suho (scratching his cheek lightly):
— Ah… I just got lucky.
— And I wanted to blend into the world quickly.
Reinhart:
— Blend in? What do you mea—
Kevin (suddenly lifting his head):
— Hmmm?
Suho (quickly):
— Look! Kevin turned human again!
Kevin:
— What? I was human the whole time!
Reinhart (laughing):
— I almost believed you.
Suho fell silent for a moment… then exhaled.
Suho (honestly):
— I have an entry permit to an Association gate.
— I want you both to come with me.
Reinhart's eyes widened with excitement.
Reinhart:
— A gate?! Really?!
Kevin (without lifting his head):
— Does it have food?
Suho:
— Maybe… monsters at least.
Reinhart:
— But… we'll go to Korea and return quickly?
— How? Instant transfer is expensive.
Suho (smiling confidently):
— I have a brilliant idea.
— We'll use the Tower.
Reinhart almost jumped up.
Reinhart:
— Then… can I bring Emily?
Suho:
— That's fine.
— Increasing the number is better.
Kevin:
— As long as you don't stop me from eating.
In the evening
The trio stood before the Tower.
The air was heavy, the lights dazzling.
Kevin yawned. Reinhart looked around excitedly.
Suho:
— Where's Emily?
Reinhart (smiling):
— On the way.
Minutes passed.
Then—
She arrived.
Emily was there.
And… behind her—
Suho paled.
Suho (whispering):
— Damn… damn it… no… no…
Reinhart:
— What?
Suho stared.
Suho:
— You brought her… her too…
Aileen stood calmly.
Beside her… Shang-Yu.
Aileen met his gaze. Her cheeks flushed instantly.
Aileen (thinking):
Why is he here? Why is my heart beating like this?
Shang-Yu looked at Suho with long, cold scrutiny.
A probing… examining stare.
Suho swallowed.
Suho (thinking):
Why does she make me feel like I committed a crime?
But… the meeting passed peacefully.
Light greetings.
Awkward silence.
Kevin broke the atmosphere.
Kevin:
— We're a team now?
— Good. Who's carrying the food?
Inside the Tower
They moved to the Crossroads of Civilizations.
Then chose: Seoul Tower.
With light… they were transferred.
Silence fell.
They did not notice that the Tower does not allow movement for those without a system.
Suho was… exhilarated.
Reinhart noticed.
Reinhart:
— Why are you smiling like that?
Suho (with faint pride):
— Nothing…
— I just feel like I came back home.
They headed toward the gate.
Along the way…
Shang-Yu never took her eyes off Suho.
Suho (thinking nervously):
Is she staring? Or is this just my imagination?
They arrived.
An Association inspector checked the permits.
Inspector:
— The license is valid…
— But a team cannot enter without identities.
Calmly, Suho pulled out another permit.
The inspector froze.
Read it.
His expression stiffened.
Inspector:
— Entry permitted.
Reinhart looked at Suho in shock.
Reinhart:
— Who exactly are you?
Suho (laughing):
— A student… sometimes.
Inside the gate
An open forest.
Green, beautiful, eerily calm.
Suddenly—
Ding!
The Tower's status window appeared.
Aileen:
— What is this?!
Emily:
— A window… like a system?!
Everyone was shocked…
Except Suho and Reinhart.
Reinhart:
— So… the Tower acknowledged them.
Suho smiled with genuine happiness.
Suho:
— Welcome.
Then…
His expression changed.
Concern.
A faint sadness.
A distant, yearning gaze.
Ding!
System Window
Tower Qualification Trial
Emily:
— Wow… a trial?
Aileen (suspicious):
— Did you know about this, Suho?
Suho (raising his hands):
— I swear I didn't.
— Seems your luck… is kind.
They advanced.
The mission appeared.
Survival Mission
Clear five waves of monsters to pass the stage.
Kevin:
— Five… waves?
Reinhart:
— This isn't a test… it's a war.
BOOM!
First Wave
1000 Goblins
Emily:
— A thousand?!
Aileen:
— This is insane!
Kevin:
— I didn't sign up for this!
At that moment—
Suho stood atop the roof of a village house.
Watching from above.
Calm. Observing.
Suho (whispering):
— Show me…
— How worthiness is tested.
The goblins advanced…
Like a flood.
The forest was no longer quiet.
With the first sharp scream, trees split apart, and the first wave surged like a grotesque green deluge.
A thousand goblins, with crude weapons and hungry eyes, swarmed toward the small village.
Battle Begins
Aileen drew her sword first.
Aileen (steadily):
— Stay close together.
Shang-Yu did not answer, but moved at the same moment.
They advanced together—fire and ice—
As if bound by an unspoken agreement.
At the first clash—
SCREEECH!
A fiery arc carved through the air, followed by a sharp icy flash.
Heads fell before bodies did.
It was a sword dance.
Aileen (breathing):
— Your left!
Shang-Yu:
— I saw it.
They struck together.
Heat exploding… cold piercing.
A tableau of synchronized slaughter, as if engraving an unerasable pattern upon the battlefield.
At the rear—
Emily raised her staff, her face glowing with excitement.
Emily:
— Alright… let's play!
Magic circles formed in the air.
Light orbs, wind chains, mana arrows, precisely distributed small explosions.
— To your left!
— Behind Aileen!
— Kevin, strike now!
She weaved spells from every direction, her mind moving terrifyingly fast, controlling the battlefield like a chessboard.
At the center—
Reinhart and Kevin.
There was no elegance.
No tricks.
Only body and fist.
Reinhart charged, aura reinforcing his muscles, his punch crushing a goblin in a single blow.
BOOM!
Kevin laughed loudly.
Kevin:
— They're burger patties!
He leapt, twisted midair, and crashed down like a human meteor.
The ground shook.
Goblins scattered like wooden dolls.
Reinhart (panting):
— Don't rush in too much!
Kevin:
— If I don't rush… I'll starve!
A perfect duo—
Barbarians by nature.
After an hour
The last goblin fell.
Silence…
Then heavy breathing.
Suho stood atop the house, looking at them.
Kevin knelt, sweat pouring, breath violent from overexertion.
Reinhart stood with difficulty, exhaustion clear after constant movement, his healing having drained much of his energy.
Aileen and Shang-Yu…
Mirrored.
Their swords were still raised, but mana was gone, bodies betraying their will.
Emily sat on the ground, staring blankly.
Emily (weakly):
— My head… is going to explode…
Suho finally descended.
He looked at them one by one.
Suho (calm, sincere):
— This… is an excellent beginning.
He lifted his head slightly.
— Your talents… are overwhelming.
— For your ages… this is outstanding.
The team gathered before the second round.
Suho took out small vials.
Suho:
— Take them.
— Endurance… and mana recovery.
The team nearly recovered.
Kevin:
— Oh… this is better than coffee!
Reinhart:
— I worried about us more than I should have.
Suho (slightly grim):
— I just… don't want anyone to get hurt.
Aileen smiled with gentle mockery.
Aileen:
— You worry too much, Kim Suho.
Shang-Yu:
— It's annoying.
But… no one stepped away.
Second Wave
Ding!
1000 Goblins
500 Hobgoblins
50 Goblin Leaders
Kevin:
— …
— What the hell is this?
Emily—
Suho returned to his elevated position.
And it began again.
But this time—
It was harder.
Heavier blows.
Deeper wounds.
Fatigue creeping in like poison.
Kevin fell once… and rose laughing.
Reinhart bled a little… but continued.
Aileen's blade edge cracked… so she changed her style.
Shang-Yu learned how to conserve mana.
Emily began casting shorter… sharper spells.
There was adaptation.
Learning.
Courage born under pressure.
And with the last leader—
The second wave fell.
No serious injuries.
Suho stood, staring at them in silent amazement.
Suho (thinking):
This team…
A miracle.
Rare synergy.
Wordless understanding.
He smiled.
Suho (whispering):
— A true blessing…
Then he lifted his gaze toward the forest.
Will they endure the next round?