[Chun Yuseong requested a video call]
[Are you sure you want to accept it?]
A familiar name appeared on the screen, and Jin-hyuk answered it.
"Eh. You were alive?"
The demonic humans couldn't have been that weak… but as expected of the top swordsman.
"You fucking idiot! Do you know how much trouble I've been through all night because of you!? I couldn't even sleep since I had to deal with those stalker bastards!"
Chun Yuseong yelled.
"I know. But I did it for you. You're good at everything else, but you lack face-to-face combat experience."
"W-who are you to say that!"
"Nobody. I just wanted to tell you about my feelings. Now I'm sure you've learned how it feels to be chased by people."
"For real… after you die, it'll be hell for you."
"Ugh. Well, I can't deny that."
If he had to consider himself either a good or bad person, he was closer to evil. If he had to choose between heaven and hell… well, hell always sounded interesting.
But…
"It doesn't seem like you contacted me just to swear at me. What do you want?"
If he were truly furious about what happened, he wouldn't be making a call. He would have come here wielding his sword.
Having fought him more than a hundred times over the years, Jin-hyuk understood this man's character better than anyone else.
"You're smart. Actually, I have a proposal for you."
"Did you bring up the story of demonic humans so I wouldn't reject the offer?"
"Think however you want to."
"Fine. I'll hear you out."
Jin-hyuk nodded, and Chun Yuseong began his explanation.
"In an hour, an event will be held at the Awakened Association. Players of AA rank and higher, including me, are supposed to gather there."
This…
A party?
"The times must be good. The attack on the boss is failing, and they're holding a party for everyone?"
"That's why it's being held."
"What?"
"Due to the successive failures, people are anxious that public trust in the Guilds and the Association is about to fall. That's why they're aiming to show how strong and reliable their players are." ꞦÄΝΟ₿ËȘ
"Hmm. That's a nice way to do it."
A battle between players with different abilities. Raids or monster hunts often appeared in videos, but seeing a player fight another player live was a rarity.
It wasn't a bad way to relieve public doubt—just like how Roman emperors in the past used to make gladiators fight in the colosseum.
Right, well.
Now that he understood the intention—
"What does that have to do with me? I'm not AA rank or higher."
"The winner is given a choice between two things. A replica relic of their choice… or…"
Chun Yuseong lowered his voice, indicating that the second option was a huge deal.
"Or getting a nomination to apply for a match against a player who didn't officially participate in the event."
Shit.
That was ominous as hell.
Jin-hyuk pressed his forehead.
"You want to fight me."
"Killing you is the reason I'm climbing the tower. It would be perfect to do it in front of everyone."
Wow. Look who said he wasn't a fighter.
Always with the same wish—maybe this guy really was a true chuunibyou.
"But what if I refuse?"
"Of course. Rejection would brand you as a coward, but it's not like you're someone who cares about that."
"Then I can refuse. I hate being bothered like that."
Thank god. There was a way out.
Just as he was about to sigh in relief—
"No. You can't refuse."
Chun Yuseong took out a black ticket from his pocket. At first glance, it was unusual, with golden letters embedded into it.
"What's that?"
"An invitation from the black market. If you have it, you can attend the auction in Las Vegas tomorrow at midnight."
'…?'
Chun Yuseong nodded while looking at Jin-hyuk.
Right. This was it.
Invitations to black market auctions weren't easy to obtain. There were rumors that they could only be received after passing extremely strict conditions.
The exact method was still unknown.
And he was just going to give that away?
'Did he bring something appetizing to bait me in?'
Unlike the Coin Exchange that players could use, cash was the main currency in the black market. It was still an attractive place for many people.
Those who attended the auction would use cash, then use the items they obtained three days later to attack the 4th floor.
If he could get into the auction, he could secure better items.
"So if I beat you, you'll hand over that ticket for free?"
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
Chun Yuseong put the ticket back into his pocket and said,
"Come in your best condition. I don't want to hear excuses after you lose."
And the call ended. Until the very end, the guy acted like some kind of hero.
On the way from the underground level to the Awakened Association, Jin-hyuk finished the work he couldn't do while he was down there.
—
Name: Kang Jin-hyuk
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Level: 19
Strength: 8
Agility: 8
Stamina: 8
Magic: 41
Rift: 100
Luck: 10
Adaptability: 10
Stat Points: 54
Coins: 2,740
Unique Abilities: Fusion, Sword Grave, Blessing of the Stars, Anubis' Judgment
Skills:
Lv4 'Element of Fire'
Lv3 'Eye of Truth'
Lv3 'Communion'
Lv3 'Stigma on Soul'
Lv3 'Monopolize'
Lv3 'Shallow Breath'
Lv1 'Ice Formation'
Lv1 'Daylight'
—
'54 points…'
Seeing this reinforced just how crazy the day had been.
Jin-hyuk couldn't stop smiling as he reviewed his abilities and skills. In particular, Anubis' Judgment, Daylight, and Ice Formation were skills he could use frequently in the future.
Insane!
There was no way his growth could be compared to others.
'Stats should be raised evenly. I should focus on the ones I haven't invested in until now.'
The higher you climbed the tower, the greater the variety of anomalous climates and monsters became.
[Strength increased from 8 to 16.]
[Agility increased from 8 to 16.]
[Stamina increased from 8 to 16.]
Eight points were invested into each stat.
Then—
Jin-hyuk grabbed a stone from the ground and clenched it slightly.
Crack!
The stone split in two. His grip felt different, and thanks to his increased agility, he could fully grasp the movement of his entire body.
'I'll only be able to feel the change in stamina during a prolonged battle.'
Just as he thought that—
[Congratulations! Your uploaded video has been selected as a 'Hot Issue.']
A golden status window appeared before him.
Oh?
Was it already spreading?
He clicked on the video. He saw himself in a mask alongside Teresa, Patrick, and other guild rankers.
The demonic humans had been edited out since the video's purpose wasn't to damage the public image of the guilds.
Even without that, the video was gaining massive traction.
[Views: 50,536,988]
That number was shocking. Non-tower viewers only counted as one view per day.
At 100 coins per 10,000 views, 50 million views equaled 500,000 coins. After the 90% commission, he would receive 50,000 coins.
'If it weren't for that insane commission, we'd be rich…'
Still, 50,000 coins was enough to make people lose their sense of reality.
Even overseas rankers wouldn't have more than 10,000 coins individually.
'Let's collect the coins first.'
Jin-hyuk cashed out as he arrived at his destination.
The main gate of the Awakened Association.
Chun Yuseong stood there in a black suit.
What kind of outfit was that for a fight?
As Jin-hyuk shook his head, Chun Yuseong noticed him.
"You're late."
"Late? We still have one minute left."
Jin-hyuk shrugged.
'He's much stronger than when we met at the ruins.'
But—
The gap hadn't narrowed.
If anything, it had grown wider.
And then—
"Well, are you the one Chun Yuseong is after? You're a lot sassier than I expected."
A muscular man in a suit approached them. A familiar tattoo was visible on his neck.
'Oh.'
This was going to be interesting.
PS :
Chun Yuseong – Top swordsman and rival of Jin-hyuk; a recurring high-level player.
Jin-hyuk (Kang Jin-hyuk) – Protagonist; an overpowered climber with unique growth mechanics.
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