Chapter 9
6. Floor 2 Test (1)
<Undead Race>
Grade: Floor 2 Trial
▶ Objective: Reach the finish line within the time limit.
▶ Reward: Earn all of the following:
-
2,000 Points
-
Choose 2 items from the Skilled Equipment Set
-
Access to Floor 2 of the Tower
▶ Bonus Reward: ???
▶ Failure: You will be left behind in the Floor 2 trial zone.
[You may now pass the starting line and the finish line.]
[Reach the finish line within the time limit! Otherwise, you’ll be “cleaned up!”]
[Time remaining: 3 days]
“Alright! Let’s go!”
Rumble…!
The surrounding walls crumbled, revealing the full view to the players.
GRAAAHHH…
SKREEEEE…
Blocking their path was an overwhelming horde of undead—too many to count.
Hundreds—possibly thousands.
Just seeing the numbers didn’t do it justice. Facing them in person was a completely different level of intimidation.
“Charge!”
“Waaaah!”
“Let’s work together!”
Thud! Slice!
The players on the second floor were clearly much more skilled than those on the first.
They swung their weapons without hesitation, delivering far more satisfying results than anything seen before.
What’s more, since they had already gone through <El Land> on Floor 1, they were finally able to fulfill their actual “roles.”
<Fireball>
<Holy Arrow>
<Divine Strike>
Players who had learned magic or holy spells on Floor 1 were finally shining.
‘By now, most of the hesitation should’ve disappeared.’
As expected of Floor 2, the enemies were only low-level zombies and skeletons.
No matter how many there were, they were still undead.
One cast of magic from a mage or priest swept them away effortlessly.
Fwoosh—!
Two fatal weaknesses of undead:
Fire and Holy Power.
Centered around those who could wield these powers, the test-takers advanced unstoppably.
“We can do it! We can!”
“Yaaahhh—!”
The undead were numerous, yes, but weaker than goblins or gnolls.
Thanks to that, at least on the first day, all players cooperated and reached roughly the same distance.
But Lee Jin-hyuk knew the truth.
‘The real trial begins…’
Swish.
‘…when the finish line starts to get closer.’
Day 2
A little past halfway.
“Huff… huff…”
“Protect the mages and priests!”
“Let’s go!”
As they advanced, the number of undead increased, and the mages’ and priests’ mana was depleting fast.
SKREEEEEEECH—!
Then, undead monsters with tougher skin—Ghouls—began to appear.
“Uwaaaah!”
“P-please, save me!”
Mages and priests were protected due to their necessity.
Everyone else was not so lucky.
Those with no value…
No, worse—rivals who would get in the way of a high score.
“If you fall behind, we can’t save you. Survive on your own!”
“Sorry, but we need to live too.”
Those without a guild or abandoned by teammates were left behind to die.
‘Damn… saving them could get me killed.’
‘Points and ranks don’t matter if I don’t make it into the safe zone. The Cleaner will come.’
‘Tsk tsk. They should’ve trained more on the first floor—or at least made connections.’
They fell behind because they were weak. They died because they were weak.
That was it.
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> gazes pitifully at the abandoned players.]
[Constellation <King of Muspel> clicks his tongue, saying weakness is a sin.]
‘Looks like dropouts are starting to appear.’
At the front, Lee Jin-hyuk slashed through the undead and looked back.
‘No need to save them.’
He wasn’t some saint suffering from a disease to save everyone.
He only acted in ways that benefited himself.
No, right now—building that kind of image was the benefit.
‘Because…’
Smirk.
‘…that’s how I’ll attract the constellations’ attention.’
[Skill <Enchant: Flame> activated.]
Undead on Floor 2 were weaker than goblins or gnolls individually.
They moved slowly and were clumsy.
But they were not living beings.
They felt no pain—even if you cut off their limbs or pierced their heart, they kept coming.
The only solution was to destroy their head or burn them completely.
For Lee Jin-hyuk, that made them easy prey.
One flame-infused slash to the head was enough to kill them.
[Ghoul defeated.] x4
[3 Points earned.] x4
[EXP increased.]
[Several constellations feel frustrated by your actions.]
‘It’s starting, huh?’
He could feel it.
Other players wouldn’t know, but Lee Jin-hyuk understood how the constellations thought.
They all wanted him to “do something fun.”
‘So, it’s one of two things.’
Either:
Rush ahead and take first place.
Or:
Rescue all the dropouts before they die.
Only Lee Jin-hyuk could provide the thrill of overwhelming power.
The constellations were hungry for it.
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> declares a new Star Command.]
‘There it is.’
Star Command.
A special sponsorship activated when certain actions are fulfilled.
<Star Command>
▶ Objective: Rescue dropouts in the Floor 2 test
▶ Reward: 100 points per rescued dropout
Dropout rescue.
Just as Lee Jin-hyuk predicted.
He didn’t know Eternal Flame well, but he could tell the being had a good heart.
[Several constellations join <Eternal Flame>’s Star Command.]
‘Oh-ho.’
Apparently unable to turn away from dying players, many good-aligned constellations joined in.
As the point rewards grew, Jin-hyuk sprinted toward the dropouts.
He needed a whopping 200,000 points to absorb his next sacred relic.
Every single point mattered.
“Thanks for the Star Command.”
But with this kind of setup, conflict was bound to follow.
Constellations who preferred “refreshing, dramatic” outcomes wouldn’t stay quiet.
[Constellation <King of Muspel> declares a new Star Command.]
<Star Command>
▶ Objective: Finish 1st in the Floor 2 test
▶ Reward: 3,000 Points
‘Can’t save dropouts and take first at the same time… it’s a perfect counter-command.’
[Constellation <Dawn King of China> joins <King of Muspel>’s Star Command.]
[Constellation <Blood-Red Hair> joins <King of Muspel>’s Star Command.]
[Constellation <Fire that Killed the Mother Goddess> joins <Eternal Flame>’s Star Command.]
[Many constellations join both sides.]
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> criticizes the others!]
[Constellation <King of Muspel> scoffs, saying charity is your problem, not his.]
The reward pool ballooned.
The higher-ranked constellations raised the stakes—none willing to back down.
Each had their own principles and flavor of entertainment.
‘They think I can only clear one… but…’
Lee Jin-hyuk grinned as he decapitated a ghoul attacking a dropout.
‘…I’m going to clear both.’
Star Commands cannot be canceled unless they’re fully failed.
That was his plan—to complete both.
[Ghoul defeated.] x4
[Zombie defeated.] x2
[Skeleton defeated.] x3
[EXP increased.]
The undead burst into flames under Jin-hyuk’s enchanted blade.
No matter how many came, they couldn’t stop him.
His mana had reached 35, allowing him to continuously sustain <Enchant: Flame>.
Combined with the Hunter’s Leather Set and Eternal Frost, which boosted physical resistance—
He had no need to hold back.
“What… what is this?”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Dropouts left behind by their parties bowed in gratitude.
“…”
He didn’t bother saying, “Your lives are worth a lot of points to me.”
He simply kept swinging his sword, placing rescued players behind him.
“You can walk, right?”
“Y-yes, of course!”
“Then follow me. Quickly.”
[Constellation <Fire that Killed the Mother Goddess> is pleased with your choice.]
[Constellation <King of Muspel> frowns.]
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> holds <King of Muspel>’s hands, saying he’s pitiful for not knowing love.]
“Grab the other dropouts too. Hurry!”
“Ah… yes!”
Jin-hyuk ignored the constellation chatter and focused.
‘If I’m doing this… I’m saving every last one.’
[Constellation <Dawn King of China> coughs as if choking on a sweet potato.]
Not all constellations were happy.
They enjoyed player autonomy and unpredictability, yet still wanted things done their way.
That contradiction was part of their nature.
But Jin-hyuk didn’t care.
He would do what was most profitable.
[Constellation <King of Muspel> raises his reward to 5,000 Points.]
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> raises theirs by 200 Points.]
Each side upped the reward to sway him.
‘Not that it matters. I’m clearing both anyway.’
Smirk.
‘Let them fight. It only benefits me.’
<Updated Star Commands>
▶ Rescue dropouts — 700 Points each
▶ Finish 1st — 15,000 Points
‘So proud, these big-name constellations.’
Lee Jin-hyuk shouted out,
“Don’t rely only on me.”
He looked back.
“My stamina isn’t infinite, you know.”
“Ah—y-yes! Got it!”
“Support the wounded. Move out!”
The dropouts leaned on each other and followed Jin-hyuk.
‘Any more dropouts ahead?’
Seems not.
“Let’s head to a safe spot for now.”
[Skill <Goblin Chieftain> activated.]
Zzzzap—!
A fierce blue light shone from Jin-hyuk’s eyes.
Crack!
Screeeech!
Then, some of the undead suddenly attacked each other.
These undead were made from monsters and the corpses of failed players.
Most of them were from Floor 1.
In particular, goblins that players had killed were very common here.
Exactly.
Most of the undead were both undead and goblins.
They were mindless, low-intelligence beings with no ego.
Their levels were also low.
As long as he used mana, they had no choice but to obey the Goblin Chieftain.
[Constellation <Dawn King of China> is deeply intrigued.]
[Constellation <King of Muspel> becomes highly interested in your abilities.]
[Constellation <Blood-Red Hair> is amazed by your skill usage!]
“Huh?”
“Why are they fighting each other?”
“Is there a necromancer?”
“No… if there were, the priests would’ve noticed!”
The other players couldn’t understand what was happening.
In that moment, Jin-hyuk shouted,
“Let’s move to a safe place while we have the chance!”
He was right.
Now wasn’t the time to watch undead fight each other.
‘Not a single one…’
Jin-hyuk’s eyes burned with resolve.
‘…will die.’
