028. Layer intrusion (1)
The last day on Earth was spent learning about the Tower.
It could be seen as using up all the time on Earth without being able to rest properly, but…
Originally, returning from the Tower to Earth had a stronger purpose than rest, so it didn’t matter much.
In fact, apart from filling my stomach and taking a deep sleep, I didn’t take any rest.
‘A deep rest is a luxury.’
I checked this and that information and checked the status of those who reached the waiting room on the 6th floor.
and.
– Rumors that a strange phenomenon called ‘Tower of Trials’ has recently occurred among hunters…
– Tower of Trials What kind of dungeon is it that rumors spread like ghost stories?
-We are receiving reports about challengers who once climbed the Tower of Trials.
“Everyone finally realized about the Tower of Trials.”
I was also able to see what form the ‘Tower of Trials’ would begin to be known to the world.
‘I thought rumors that had been floating around like urban ghost stories would leak to the airwaves in a matter of days.’
Of course, it must have been because the existence of the Tower of Trials was so great.
It was also evidence that the number of returnees had increased.
‘It’s also that everyone has room to spend some points.’
It also meant that I was starting to fall behind the other challengers.
“I’ll be busy when I get back.”
He would have to quickly break through the 5th floor of the Tower of Trials.
As I was muttering and laughing like that, a message popped up in front of my eyes.
It was a message from the system of the ‘Tower of Trials’, which I haven’t seen in quite a while.
“After a while, we will be returning to the Tower of Trials.”
He said as if it was only natural for him to return to the Tower of Trials.
As if the place where he was supposed to be was the tower.
But I can’t even point it out, I’m aware of that.
‘Yeah, if you look at it, it’s true that he’s returning.’
Go back to be strong again and to survive.
To the Tower of Trials.
throbbing.
The heart thumps, awakening a sense of exhilaration.
‘Yes, it’s not bad to adapt to the tower, in this respect.’
Enjoy the intensity of the ordeal and enjoy the sense of growth from the reward.
Before I knew it, the Tower of Trials changed me like that.
But thanks to that, I became stronger and was able to survive and become a Hunter.
Is that why?
“Time ends.”
“Return to the Tower of Trials.”
The upcoming trials were no longer burdensome.
***
“…back to the tower.”
From the moment I opened my eyes, I realized that I had returned to the tower.
It was because the appearance of the wide square-shaped stone chamber and the unchanging waiting room caught my eye.
The moment I realized that fact, I startled and groped right away.
‘I’m sure he was wearing an item in the studio, so if that’s the case…’
Before he could finish thinking about it, he grabbed something in his hand.
「Croken Magic Tower Restoration Box」
A black box with gray stars engraved like constellations. Purchased at the Hunter Market.
Then, as I fumbled around, more things came out.
「Pure Stone」
A blue pyroxene stone of cleanliness.
This was also an item purchased at the Hunter Market.
「Assassin’s Cloak」
Lastly, even the Assassin’s Cloak obtained from the 2nd floor reward of the Tower of Trials was confirmed.
Only then could I be sure.
“…Are items transporting between the tower and reality free?”
Whether you got it from the tower or from real life.
As long as it was an item with a proper rating, it seemed like he could bring it.
Of course, I didn’t have a smartphone or wallet, but that was fine.
Even this much was a great harvest.
‘Fortunately, it’s pretty good if there’s something like a stone of cleanliness.’
At least in the tower there will be significantly less to worry about hygiene.
The same goes for the restoration box of the Croken Mage Tower.
‘The more I get something useful, the more comfortable it will be.’
You could sell the things you no longer use at the Tower of Trials and buy what you need with the money.
It was then.
「The achievement ‘First Return’ has been achieved.」
「The skill ‘Eye of Truth (A)’ is created.」
“…?”
My body instantly froze at the sudden notification of an achievement.
‘First return?’
It was only after reading the hologram phrase that appeared in front of my eyes over and over again that I understood the situation.
“I must have been the first to return after returning to Earth.”
Since I used the hearthstone right away, I had to guess that it would be faster than the others to come back.
It was strange that it wasn’t a system where achievements were earned only in battle.
Even more surprising than that was the reward for the achievement ‘Eyes of Truth’.
It would have been strange not to expect an A rank even if it was just a skill grade.
After taking a deep breath, I opened the status window and opened the description window for the newly acquired skill.
and.
『Skill – Eye of Truth (A)』
『Proficiency level – None』
『Effect – Using magic, you can obtain information about the target you are watching and it becomes possible to determine the truth about the words of the opponent.
』 As I read, a thrill ran through my body.
It’s not a battle-related ability, but it was more useful than that.
‘You can get information about the target you are watching.’
It is to the point where I wonder if a more attractive skill exists.
The concept of obtaining the information of the target of attention, which is the
former ability, is unclear.
Of course, it would be impossible to ‘rise up’ because there is no proficiency, but even so, it is an excellent skill.
Especially in cooperative trials with challengers.
‘It’s not written in detail about how to use it, but that’s something we should look into from now on.’
Most of the skills in the active form, not the passive form, are similar in usage.
He held the assassin’s cloak in his hand and opened his mouth at the same time.
“The Eye of Truth.”
「The skill ‘Eye of Truth’ is activated.」
「View the information of the object.」
Along with the skill activation message, the contents of the reading are added below.
“Assassin’s Cloak”
“Grade: D”
“A robe-shaped item that possesses the ability to instantly increase speed.” He
smiled at the message that came to his mind as his magical energy drained from his body.
“Is it worth it?”
It’s not much better quality than the original item identification, but…
「Waiting Room」
「Rating: ”
“Private space prepared for the challenger at the Tower of Trials.”
“Currently being provided to challenger Han Seong-
yoon .”
“No, it’s not good enough, it’s great.”
Whatever it is, if you can acquire the information of an object, that’s an advantage.
However, the ability to determine the truth could not be properly confirmed.
‘I’d have to have someone to talk to to check the effect, but there’s no such thing.’
Still, the reward for the unexpected achievement was satisfactory.
‘It’s worth buying the return stone right away.’
This skill was acquired thanks to being able to return to Earth faster than others.
Even if it wasn’t, it was a beneficial return, but I couldn’t stop laughing when I got this reward.
‘If you get used to the skill and can activate it without talking about it…’
It was clear that it would reign as a fraudulent skill when talking to others.
of course.
‘I’m sure that’s after the trials on the 5th floor are over.’
Now that you’ve got your achievement rewards and everything you need to check out…
it’s time to choose your weapon.
As much as I sold all the weapons I used on Earth, I was thinking of buying something better.
“shop.”
The moment he opened his mouth, a shop window opened and all sorts of weapons came into view.
Normally, I would have worried about it, but there were weapons I had seen before.
「Purchased Thunder Sword (C)」
「5500 points deducted」
「Purchased Stealth Hunter’s Shield (D+)」
「3800 points deducted」
「Those will be enough.」
[Thunder Sword]
[Grade: C]
[Attack Speed +12%]
[A blue sword imbued with the magic of thunder. It was made by a blacksmith who worshiped thunder.
” Gives a ‘Lightning’ effect with a chance.」
「Shield of the Stealth Hunter」
「Rating: D+」
「Movement Speed +3%」
「Presence Reduction +5%」
「A simple shield that can be attached to the arm, It was created by mixing it.」
「You can move more quickly and stealth is added.」
Although the sword of thunder has no attached effects, it gives a ‘electric shock’ effect when hitting.
The stealthy hunter’s shield was an attachable shield that suited my fighting style.
Of course, more points were invested in the sword, and the shield inevitably became poor.
‘Because that doesn’t mean I fight mainly with a shield.’
I thought there was nothing to worry about.
After completing all preparations, I entered the community and glanced at the remaining members.
「5th floor community (443/691)」
“There are over 1000 people, but have they already disappeared?”
Certainly, it seems that there are quite a few people who directly challenge the ordeal.
‘Then most of them must have moved on to the next trial, and the remaining ones must have come from the 5th floor.’
Maybe it was the challengers who somehow managed to come up from downstairs.
Of course, the odds of that happening are slim to none.
I was relieved when I checked the ranking of the ordeal settlement.
‘The ranking of the trial settlement remains the same.’
I smiled when I found out that I was still designated as a ‘pioneer’.
Anyway, the Tower of Trials just said that it was enough to be designated as a pioneer.
Now, it doesn’t matter much whether or not the ranking of the settlement has changed.
but.
“…Well, in case you don’t know.”
It is not yet known what benefits will be gained if successively designated as pioneers.
That’s why it’s important to keep being designated as a pioneer.
It was also a law to consider the situation that if you keep it, you will receive additional benefits.
“Then there is no room for procrastination.”
It is more important to catch up with others than to stay longer.
Having made that decision, I immediately executed the ‘trial’ command.
「Are you going to accept the 5th floor ordeal?」
「Y/N」
The waiting time for the ordeal has already passed and disappeared.
Without hesitation, I pressed ‘Y’ and soon a familiar portal appeared in front of me.
I put the ‘Croquel Magic Tower Restoration Box’ and ‘Clean Stone’ in my inventory and installed all the equipment.
‘I’m ready to go in now.’
After making that decision, I stepped into the portal and the scenery changed in an instant.
From an empty stone chamber to a cave where the surroundings are stained with darkness.
「Entering the 5th floor of the Tower of Trials.」
「Difficulty – Hard」
「The theme of the ordeal is ‘hunting’.」
「I hope that the challenger will have a satisfactory result at the end of their chosen penance.」
Then, the goal of the ordeal comes to mind. .
「The 5th floor ordeal begins.」
「Remaining time – 1 day」
「Order breakthrough condition – Defeat the wolf den boss ‘Werewolf’ within the remaining time」
「Order failure condition – challenger death or remaining time end」
「Trial Breakthrough Reward – Savage Wolf’s Headband (C-)” and
“Trial Failure Penalty – Death”
The moment I finished reading the message, I heard a growling sound from around me.
Kreureung…
“From the beginning, they welcomed you fiercely.”
Muttering calmly, I looked around once more.
It was a cave where nothing should have been seen because it was dark….
The enemy’s appearance was revealed at once, as his physical abilities improved and his night vision improved.
A wolf-like monster with bristly brown fur and red eyes.
“The Eye of Truth.”
「Crazy Wolf」
「Rating: E+」
「A D-class monster that has a wolf-like appearance and mainly lives in groups and lives in caves.」 「The bite is so strong that
an ordinary person’s arm can be severed right away if bitten once.」
Second, it was a bloody explanation to confirm that it was an ability.
Being bitten once can cut off an arm…
Of course, it won’t be easily cut off as there is durability generated by the elixir of steel.
There was nothing wrong with being careful.
“Kreurreung…!”
I gripped my sword tightly as I watched the three Crazy Wolves howling ferociously.
“It’s a D-class monster, so it’s not bad.”
The moment he finished saying that, all three Crazy Wolves rushed at him.
“Kwaaaang!”
And that was Crazy Wolf’s last cry.
snug snug!
He evaded the attack in an instant and pierced a wind hole through their necks.
At the same time, the bodies of the Crazy Wolves fell to the ground powerlessly.
Kwa Dang Tang.
It was a death without even a death sentence, but there was not much inspiration.
Considering the increased stats, even a D-class monster would not be an opponent that would be difficult.
“The taste is good, but I didn’t see the thunder sword strike effect.”
It is said that it activates with a 10% chance, but it does not activate as well as expected.
I wasn’t disappointed though.
―Kreurreung…
There are more monsters inside that can help with practice.
Because the cry resounding from the depths of the wide cave told me that.
