00:00 AM – Ha-jin's Room
Ha-jin stirred from a deep sleep for reasons he couldn't quite explain. Slowly opening his eyes, he found something glowing in front of him.
---
[Congratulations!]
[You have been selected to climb the Tower!]
[Conquer the Tower and become its God!]
---
It was nothing short of an invitation.
Ha-jin's eyes widened in disbelief. It was as if yesterday's chaotic chase had never happened—he shot up from his bed, fully awake now.
He stared at the floating message, frozen.
"A... A message? For me?"
"F-From the Tower?"
"Heh… Hehehe. So, wait—does this mean I'm a Climber now?"
Still in shock, he muttered to himself.
"Okay… breathe, Ha-jin. Calm down."
Taking a deep breath, he focused.
"Let's see what this is all about…"
Soon after, the text changed.
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[Gathering Climber data...]
[Data successfully retrieved]
[Generating Climber profile...]
[Profile successfully created]
---
[Climber Profile – Joo Ha-jin]
Name: Joo Ha-jin
Age: 20
Class: [Unassigned]
Title: ????????
Level: 1
Stats:
• Strength: 2
• Agility: 3
• Endurance: 4
• Intelligence: 4
• Mana: 1
• Luck: 2
Skills:
Active Skills: None
Passive Skill: Calm Mind (B)
---
After reading the profile, Ha-jin sat in silence for a moment.
His head lowered slowly.
A shadow crept across his face.
His shoulders trembled… not from power, but from despair.
"Strength: 2… Mana: 1… Luck: 2… What am I supposed to do with these stats? Slay monsters or build a snowman?"
His gaze drifted into nothingness. His face wore the expression of a man betrayed by fate.
If someone played a sad violin in the background, it would've fit perfectly.
"This… This is a prank, right? Where's the camera? Is this some kind of hidden show?"
Dropping to his knees, he held his head in his hands.
"I'm… the weak side character, aren't I? Not even strong enough to be a decent extra!"
A dark aura seemed to gather around him.
But then—
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"No. No. Calm down, Ha-jin. Stats are just numbers. Real strength… comes from within… or whatever."
He paused. Then shook his head, clearly not buying his own words.
"Well… at least I've got a B-rank passive skill. That's something, right?"
"Let's check what it does."
---
[Passive Skill: Calm Mind (B)]
[Effect: When under extreme stress or adrenaline, the user retains logical thinking and remains composed.]
---
"So… that's why I've been able to stay calm this whole time…"
"Even though it's passive, for someone like me... it might be perfect."
Just as he said that, another message popped up:
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[You will be transported to Floor 1 in 10 minutes.]
---
"What?" Ha-jin blinked at the notification.
"Ten minutes? I'm being sent into the Tower? Now?!"
"I don't even have armor! I don't even have a weapon! How am I supposed to fight?!"
"I mean, with these stats, I couldn't even beat a goblin… let alone survive a floor!"
---
[Passive Skill: Calm Mind (B) Activated]
---
"Okay… this isn't the time to panic. I have ten minutes. I need a plan."
He started pacing the room.
"No armor, no weapons. If I enter like this, I'll die for sure."
"Armor's impossible right now... Weapon it is. I need a weapon."
"M-maybe the kitchen knife?"
"No… ordinary weapons won't work in the Tower."
"So where do I find one? How do I survive the first floor? HOW?!"
Then, suddenly, as if a lightbulb turned on above his head—
"I've got it!"
---
[02:30 AM – Tower, Floor 1]
"Are you sure it's a good idea to hunt at night?" asked a young woman, gripping her staff tightly.
Her name was Seo Hana, a healer. Though her face was gentle, her eyes betrayed a deep fear.
"Don't worry," replied a broad-shouldered man in heavy armor, his confident smile gleaming under the moonlight. "You'll heal us if anything goes wrong, right? Besides, nothing can get past me."
That was Kang Dae-jung, the team's tank. He acted as if his armor made him invincible.
"Still… let's not get careless," said the third member—tall, quiet, and carrying a massive greatsword across his back.
Lee Min-ho, a two-handed sword specialist. Calm and focused.
This was their second time in the Tower.
The first time, it had been daytime. The goblins had been scattered and slow to respond. They had hunted safely and left unharmed.
But tonight… things were different.
The air was colder. Thicker. As they stepped into the forest, unease crawled up their spines.
Rumor had it that some floors of the Tower were far more dangerous at night… but also more rewarding. Floor 1 was one of them. Some even claimed goblins could drop magic stones at night.
They had come back to test that rumor.
"So," Hana said nervously, "we're risking our lives… just for a chance at a stone?"
"Think about it," Min-ho replied, scanning the shadows. "If even one of those stones is high-grade... we could upgrade all our gear."
"Exactly," added Dae-jung. "Besides, they say real Climbers hunt at night. What can I say? I love a challenge."
The trio approached the forest's edge where goblins were said to be most active.
Branches cracked. Faint growls echoed through the trees.
Suddenly, a figure lunged out from the darkness.
"Contact—one goblin!" Min-ho called out, swinging his blade.
The goblin hit the ground, its blood seeping into the soil.
Dae-jung scoffed. "Is that supposed to scare us?"
"Be careful," Hana warned. "There may be more."
Two more goblins emerged. This time, they moved cautiously.
But the team was prepared.
Min-ho sliced through one, Dae-jung bashed the other with his shield, and Hana healed them from behind.
"This is getting easier," Min-ho said, wiping a scratch on his arm.
"We might clear this whole floor soon," Dae-jung added proudly.
But then… silence.
The forest went still. A cold wind swept through.
Eyes. Dozens of glowing eyes emerged from the dark.
"Goblin pack!" Hana cried out.
Min-ho moved first, Dae-jung followed. Hana took position in the rear, preparing her spells.
The battle turned chaotic.
Dae-jung held the line, shield raised. Min-ho danced through the swarm, cutting down goblins with every swing. Hana healed wounds before they could become fatal.
One goblin nearly reached her, but Min-ho intercepted—taking a hook to the back in the process.
Dae-jung's armor was torn, his shield cracked. But he still stood, felling enemies with sheer will.
Minutes passed. Dozens of goblins lay dead.
Min-ho was on his knees, gasping. Hana's left arm was soaked in blood. Dae-jung could barely stay upright.
"We… did it," Hana said, voice trembling with hope.
But hope was short-lived.
A heavy thud echoed from the trees.
A tall figure emerged—armored in dark steel, wielding a massive spiked club.
---
[Floor Boss – Goblin Chieftain has appeared.]
---
Fear gripped them.
"No…" Min-ho whispered. "We're injured. We can't win this…"
Hana's eyes welled up as she looked to Dae-jung.
"I-Is this… where it ends?"
Dae-jung clenched his teeth, raising his shattered shield.
But for the first time… doubt clouded his eyes.
"Are we… really going to die here?"