Ten days until the United Arab Emirates Tower Collapse Countdown.

Even if the Tower collapses, there won’t be any loss of life.

After all, people have already experienced the terror of the Mumbai Tower collapse—by then, everyone would’ve run outside the collapse radius.

But what about the gigantic sinkhole?

What if a hole over 6 miles wide opens up in the United Arab Emirates?

We have to stop it. No matter what.

If we assume the clear fails, the message the Players affiliated with the United Arab Emirates would hear in ten days would go something like this.

[Notice: Black Tower (United Arab Emirates) climbing progress is poor.]

[Notice: The Collapse Countdown is now active.]

[Notice: If you succeed in climbing an uncleared upper floor, the countdown will stop.]

[Notice: Time remaining until Tower Collapse: 23:59:59.]

I’m not even going to let it get to the countdown.

I’ll finish the clear before that.

By the numbers, including today—within six days.

It’s even possible to clear two floors in a single day.

That would mean the Global Notice ringing twice in a day.

And if that happens, the whole world will explode again.

But I’m not pressed for time. One floor a day is enough.

[Entering Black Tower (Republic of Korea), Floor 55.]

The last floor of the gryphon section.

[Floor 55 Mission: Defeat 50 gryphons of any type and 1 Peacock-Feather Storm Gryphon.]

[Time Limit: Within 12 hours.]

[Completion Requirements: All gryphon types 0/50, Peacock-Feather Storm Gryphon 0/1.]

The boss, Peacock-Feather Storm Gryphon—

its tail was huge, beautiful, and lush, like a peacock’s feathers.

But you had to be careful.

Its finishing move was a tail-feather attack.

From the sky, it would scatter feather spears down to the ground and carpet-bomb the area where Players were standing.

Dodging that isn’t easy.

The feather spears stab down insanely densely.

Clear start.

Gryphons filled the sky, flying everywhere.

Veronica boldly targeted one that was flying right through the middle of a flock.

PAP!

It noticed Veronica.

Then the one beside it. The one beside that. The one that had been following behind—

One after another.

Five dove down in an instant.

But Veronica just pulled the trigger again toward another flock.

PAP!

Five more, staggered by a split-second delay.

PAP! PAPAPAPAP! PAPAPAPAP...

Small mana rounds fired in rapid bursts.

Not a single one missed.

But Magic Stone ammunition burned up fast.

“Supply Officer Rajix!”

Reload.

“SQUEAK!”

Rajix ran out, thrilled.

RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE...

Back when we were doing repeat-clears to gather Tower materials, the main target had been ore.

But after Veronica was summoned, I asked Rajix to increase the share of Magic Stone gathering.

For the Magic Stone-eating hippo—

Sergeant Veronica Caliber’s magic gun ammo supply.

CLINK CLINK, CLINK-CLINK-CLANG, CLINK CLINK, CLINK-CLINK-CLANG.

THUMP THUMP, THU-THU-THUMP, THUMP THUMP, THU-THU-THUMP—

a sharp drumbeat and ringing bells.

As the ground drew near, the gryphon flock fell into chaos under Gyeon Dallae’s debuff.

They settled down in a pile on the ground, like pigeons pecking at feed.

Meatshield snapped their necks one by one as if they really were pigeons, and Cossack danced his blades with a dagger gleaming with sword energy.

At the same time, Veronica started pulling again.

Gyeon Dallae’s debuff.

Meatshield and Cossack’s close-range attacks—

It didn’t take long to summon the Floor 55 boss, the Peacock-Feather Storm Gryphon.

“KRAAAAAWK!”

A massive gryphon spread its peacock feathers wide and appeared in the far-off sky, leisurely gliding in.

Veronica dropped into a seated firing stance.

VVVMMMMM!

Her magic gun heated white-hot—

PAPAPAPAP!!!

“KIIEK!”

The Peacock-Feather Storm Gryphon took a heavy hit to the torso and dropped—

and at the same time—

FWOOSH-FWOOSH-FWOOSH-FWOOSH!

brilliant feathers turned into spears and rained down, filling the ground.

Meatshield bulked his body up and wrapped Cossack, Gyeon Dallae, and Veronica in his arms.

I pulled Rajix in too and activated my Energy Barrier.

Of course, not a single feather spear even flew near me.

I was outside the attack range from the start.

I’m a rear-line commander.

I don’t go to dangerous places.

After the feather storm died down, Veronica fired a large mana round again.

PAPAPAPAP!!!

THUD!

The Peacock-Feather Storm Gryphon allowed two large mana rounds.

Like it could endure that.

It stumbled down and barely managed to land on the ground—

POP! POP! POP!

Cossack used Shadow Step to spring up onto its head.

STAB! STAB!

He blinded both eyes with his dagger—

and Meatshield, still enlarged, grabbed the boss’s head in its near-dead state and twisted it a full turn.

CRRRK—CRUNCH!

[Notice: You have achieved a clear rank of S++ on Black Tower (Korea), Floor 55.]

[S++ Clear Reward: You are awarded a Platinum Badge.]

From here on, it was my time.

Even if we’re climbing, I have to check the privilege before I go.

*****

I’d already completed a Trait enhancement.

And there was still a long time left on the next Random Summon cooldown.

So the privilege reward didn’t feel as desperately precious as it used to.

Well... it’d be nice if a Summoned Entity Rank-Up Rune came out.

So I can promote our Supply Officer Rajix and pin an SR insignia on him.

But if you get too thirsty for privileges, that isn’t very tough-guy of you.

Check it coolly.

I didn’t even do a fortune ritual.

I’ve used it twice already—now it’s stale.

A “ritual show”? What ritual show!

How embarrassing.

“Please... please...” Who am I begging? And for what?

Like a Tower tough guy, I opened my inventory,

checked the Platinum Badge,

and even if it’s a privilege I don’t want, I’ll accept it without whining—generously, broad-mindedly—

“Confirm!”

[You have been granted a privilege for accumulating 55 Platinum Badges.]

What is this.

Hurry up and hand it over.

A privilege item is fine, a Summoned Entity Rank-Up Rune to promote our Rajix to SR would be even better, and a Trait enhancement would be a mega-super-jackpot.

[Privilege: You may copy 1 skill possessed by a summoned entity.]

[Select a target.]

[Targets: John Cossack / Meatshield / Gyeon Dallae / Rajix / Mad Demon]

“Hmm.”

Is this good?

“It’s good.”

It’s insanely good.

One usable skill isn’t worth ten items—it’s worth more.

Just look at the first one I copied: Cossack’s Shadow Step.

So then, whose skill do I copy out of the five?

There are too many...

Bong Juhyeok absolutely does not want a wide range of choices.

Ugh. My head hurts.

I’d rather someone just decide for me.

That’s why I wear the clothes my mom buys, and why I only go to the same barbershop.

Back when this skill-copy privilege popped up before, it was lucky the choices were narrow.

Because there was only Cossack.

But now it’s not like that.

Cossack, Meatshield, Gyeon Dallae, Rajix, Mad Demon, Veronica Caliber.

Let’s take it slow.

Starting with Cossack.

[Cossack’s cumulative rating is above average.]

[Your range of choices expands.]

[List: Blade Explosion, Shock Break, Vile Ambush, Poison Dagger, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Disruption, Stealth, Invisibility, Polymorph, Lockpicking, Pickpocketing, Mugging, Window Prying, Irresistible Threats...]

...What is this guy?

The further you go, the more it’s nothing but crime skills.

What about Meatshield?

[Meatshield’s cumulative rating is above average.]

[Your range of choices expands.]

[List: Diamond Skin, Rapid Regeneration, Enlargement, Roar of Mockery, Steadfast Soul, Steel Skull, Silent Provocation, Final Fighting Spirit, Shockwave, Iron Grip...]

Yeah. He’s a pure body-tank.

Sorry, but excluded.

No matter how much I want to be a tough guy, I’m not interested in getting beat up for a living.

Next, Gyeon Dallae.

Her cumulative rating is high too, so she has lots of options.

[List: Bell of Encouragement, Bell of Weakening, Bell of Confusion, Drumbeat of Fighting Spirit, Talisman Arts, Blade-Ladder Walking, Fortune Reading, Casting a Killing Curse, Casting Karma, Dignity, Dressing Down...]

I don’t want to become some kind of clap shaman.

Our reliable worker, Rajix?

[List: Subspace Backpack, Leather Harvesting, Mining, Tanning, Herb Gathering, Workshop Repairs, Survival Cooking, Cleaning, Campsite Construction...]

As expected—skills specialized for being a worker.

Veronica’s list?

[Veronica Caliber’s cumulative rating is above average.]

[Your range of choices expands.]

I didn’t give her many ratings, but I consistently gave her 5 stars.

[List: Magic Gun Marksmanship, Mana Round Focus, Speed Step, Fade Mana Rounds, Mana Round Enhancement, Mana Round Volley Fire...]

Other than Speed Step, everything is tied to the magic gun.

Even if I learned it, I probably couldn’t use it.

I don’t even have a magic gun.

Lastly...

[Mad Demon’s cumulative rating is the lowest.]

[Your range of choices becomes extremely narrow.]

“Hm.”

Mad Demon.

Two summons, and both times I gave him 1 star, so of course he’s dead last.

Then does that mean there are no skills I can copy at all?

Thankfully—

[List: Blood Jade Force]

There was one.

Just one.

But even if it’s only one, choosing LSSR over SSR is obviously the rational choice.

And yet, my indecision kicked in.

Do I learn it or not?

I have to be careful.

“Learn it?”

But to use Blood Jade Force properly, I’d have to fight barehanded.

Covered in blood and flesh—

And even if I learned it, there’s no guarantee I’d be able to show anything close to Mad Demon’s level of power.

“Then don’t learn it?”

Not learning it isn’t exactly wise either.

Honestly, if not now, then when?

Even if Mad Demon is insane, what did the skill do wrong?

And there’s no guarantee another skill-copy privilege will ever show up again.

As I frowned and agonized, the summoned entities all chimed in with their own opinions.

“Master Bong, learn Talisman Arts. In the beginning your realm will be low and you cannot expect much effect, but as you grow proficient, it will improve.”

That’s not a bad idea.

“Hey, talismans ain’t it. Stealth or Invisibility. If you sneak around in the Tower, it gets way safer.”

That has a point.

“I recommend Diamond Skin or Rapid Regeneration. If your body is tough, you don’t die easily.”

Rajix?

“SQUEAK! You don’t have to learn mine. I’ll do all the work.”

Right.

If you take Rajix’s work away, he gets mad.

I still vividly remember the look on his face when the electric servant—our robot vacuum—got “executed,” and he was happy about it.

Veronica?

“Pain... GRRRRK.”

Nodding off.

Sleeping extremely well.

Then what do they think about copying Mad Demon’s skill?

When I casually floated it—

“...Mad Demon’s Blood Jade Force, you say? Ah... I am afraid. Please restrain yourself.”

“Th-that’s absolutely not okay. Blood. Blood. The word ‘blood’ is in the name. It gives me chills.”

“Summoner. It’s fine even if you don’t learn it.”

“SQUEEEAK...”

“Kuul, kuul, sluuurp! Smack-smack.”

All against it.

It couldn’t be helped.

Taking everyone’s opinions into consideration—

“Okay. I’ll learn Mad Demon’s skill.”

Weak-man trait.

Timid, but when I rebel, I do it.

To show them I’m not a pushover either.

What’s with this? I’m this kind of person.

I’m not going to be dragged along obediently just because you want it!

“...”

“...Yes.”

“...Haa.”

“SQUEAK.”

Faces full of worry.

I know what they’re worried about.

If I learn the skill, I’ll want to try it out, and then I’ll end up participating in combat, and that could get dangerous.

[Skill: You have learned Blood Jade Force.]

[Blood Jade Force has been registered in your Status Window.]

Skill: Blood Jade Force

Description: You emit formless energy to weaponize your body. Power increases in proportion to the level’s magical power. As proficiency rises, the range over which the force can be applied to the body expands.

“The Status Window?”

[Name]: Bong Juhyeok

[Affiliation]: Black Tower (Republic of Korea)

[Catalog]: John Cossack / Meatshield / Gyeon Dallae / Rajix / Mad Demon / Veronica Caliber.

[Trait Skills]: Designated Summon / Random Summon / Dismiss Summon

[General Skills]: Enter Tower (2 times/day) / Tower-Only Inventory

[Combat Skills]: Shadow Step / Mixed-Origin Thunderclap Staff / Blood Jade Force

Seeing my Status Window packed like this makes my chest swell.

I’ll unfold Blood Jade Force properly later inside the Tower.

I’m not going to face monsters directly right away, but I can still raise proficiency through practice.

Enter Tower: 2 times/day.

Since I go in twice, I’ll have plenty of time to practice.

Now comes the wyvern section.

Floor 56 is earth wyverns, Floor 57 is flame wyverns, Floor 58 is frost wyverns, Floor 59 is lightning wyverns, and Floor 60 is special—instead of all wyverns, venom wyverns and a Wyvern Lord show up.

We keep going.

All the way to Floor 59.

<There is no break. Floor 55, S++ clear rank—how far will he go?>

<An unprecedented record. Up to Floor 55, not once has he missed an S++ clear.>

<He breezed through the gryphon section with flying monsters—now wyverns?>

<Republic of Korea’s top Player was someone else entirely.>

<Player Nam Gaeun admits it too: comparing her to him is ridiculous. She still has a long way to go.>

For the first time in a while, the media poured out coverage.

Being a reporter in Korea is ridiculously easy.

When a new issue explodes every day.

ㄴTold you, didn’t I? Korea—no, the world’s best Player is who?

ㄴBut seriously, can he even do the wyvern section? It feels like it’ll be brutal.

ㄴLOL, there aren’t just one or two forum users who said that and then vanished.

ㄴDon’t underestimate the defense of Floor 56 earth wyverns. Catching even one takes ages.

ㄴI saw someone’s video—wasn’t it Yoo Cheolmin’s clear video?

ㄴNam Gaeun said the same thing.

ㄴWho cares? The Player himself is different in the first place.

Right as the forum was heating up—

ㄴOh!

ㄴHuh?!

ㄴWhat?

ㄴIt’s up.

┗ㄴAgain?

ㄴLet’s gooooo!

A Global Notice heard by Players affiliated with the Republic of Korea.

Like there was no difference between wyverns and gryphons.

[Notice: You have achieved a clear rank of S++ on Black Tower (Korea), Floor 56.]

Time remaining until Tower Collapse (United Arab Emirates): 9 days.

[Notice: You have achieved a clear rank of S++ on Black Tower (Korea), Floor 57.]

Time remaining: 8 days.

[Notice: You have achieved a clear rank of S++ on Black Tower (Korea), Floor 58.]

Time remaining: 7 days.

[Notice: You have achieved a clear rank of S++ on Black Tower (Korea), Floor 59.]

All the way down to 6 days remaining.

We kept running.

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────