The city didn't recover.
It froze.
Cars were abandoned mid-intersection. Hunters lay unconscious like fallen NPCs. News helicopters hovered aimlessly, pilots passed out, cameras still rolling as if the world wanted proof that reality had officially given up.
I stood barefoot on my bedroom floor, staring at the shattered wall where the demon had appeared minutes ago.
My heart was beating calmly.
Too calmly.
That was the scariest part.
[WARNING: USER MENTAL STATE TOO STABLE]
[SUGGESTION: PANIC?]
"Shut up," I muttered.
[SYSTEM RESPONSE: 😢]
I walked to the balcony.
Seven floors down, people were staring up at me.
No—
They were staring at my aura.
A pressure rolled off my body like heat distortion. Even I could feel it now, a suffocating presence that bent the air, crushed sound, and made the world feel… smaller.
[PASSIVE AURA: KING OF UNASKED CONSEQUENCES (SSS)]
Effect: Weaker beings instinctively kneel or lose consciousness
A man in a Hunter Association uniform collapsed on the street.
Another followed.
Then another.
Soon, half the block was on their knees.
"…This is getting awkward."
Behind me, a calm female voice spoke.
"Kang Woojin."
I turned.
She was still there.
White hair tied neatly. Black suit. Calm eyes that looked like they had seen the end of the world and decided it wasn't impressive.
She didn't kneel.
Interesting.
[ANALYZING TARGET…]
Name: Han Seoyeon
Affiliation: ???
Threat Level: "Amusing"
Potential: HAREM CANDIDATE (LOCKED)]
"…Huh?"
Ignore that.
She bowed her head slightly.
"On behalf of the Korean Hunter Association, the Government, and several parties that cannot be named yet—"
She paused, eyes flicking to the system windows only I could see.
"—we request your cooperation."
I leaned against the railing.
"And if I say no?"
She smiled.
"Then the world adapts."
Cold.
Professional.
Smart.
I liked that.
[NEW QUEST: THE WORLD'S FIRST CONTRACT]
Objective: Sign a cooperation agreement
Reward: ???
Failure: None (You are inevitable)]
"Bring a pen," I said. "And money."
Her smile widened.
Later – Hunter Association Headquarters
They didn't make me walk.
A helicopter landed on my roof.
As I stepped inside, the pilot nearly fainted just from proximity.
[PASSIVE EFFECT TRIGGERED: UNINTENTIONAL DOMINANCE]
I sighed.
"Can I turn this off?"
[SYSTEM: No.]
Of course.
As the helicopter lifted off, my phone buzzed nonstop.
Unknown numbers. Media. Alerts.
Then—
[STOCK MARKET UNLOCKED: SYSTEM INTEGRATION COMPLETE]
"What?"
Windows flooded my vision.
[SKILL: MARKET DOMINATION (SSS)]
Effect: User can see future stock fluctuations up to 72 hours ahead
Side Effect: Capitalism cries]
I stared.
"…Isn't this broken?"
[SYSTEM: YOU ASK THAT A LOT.]
By the time we landed, I had invested my entire ₩12,430.
Thirty seconds later—
[PROFIT: ₩8,200,000]
"…BRO."
Underground Conference Room – S-Rank Clearance
The room was filled with monsters.
Not literal ones.
Top-ranked hunters. Guild masters. Military executives. Politicians.
Every single one stood when I entered.
Some tried not to kneel.
They failed.
[TITLE EFFECT: "THE ONE ABOVE RANKINGS" ACTIVATED]
A hologram flickered on.
A massive tower appeared.
"Three hours ago," an official began, voice shaking,
"a structure known as the Tower of Regression manifested worldwide."
The image zoomed in.
"Clearing floors grants power, wealth, and wishes. Death results in forced regression… back in time."
Regression.
So that's where this was going.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Tower Detected: YOUR PROPERTY (UNCLAIMED)]
"…Mine?"
Han Seoyeon glanced at me.
"Sir… the Tower reacted when you blinked."
Of course it did.
I raised a hand.
"I'll clear it."
The room erupted.
"But—!"
"That tower requires teams—!"
"No one has passed Floor 3—!"
I looked at the hologram.
Then I stepped forward.
Reality warped.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: WALKING INTO PLOT]
Tower of Regression – Floor 1
Dark stone. Screaming monsters. A tutorial message appeared.
[WELCOME, REGRESSOR]
Clear Condition: Survive for 30 minutes]
A goblin lunged at me.
I looked at it.
It vanished.
[EXISTENCE DENIAL TRIGGERED]
The tower trembled.
[FLOOR CLEARED]
TIME: 0.01 SECONDS]
The system froze.
Then—
[ERROR ERROR ERROR]
[NEW CONDITION APPLIED: PLEASE STOP]
I laughed.
For the first time, genuinely.
End of Chapter 2