TRA 02

Chapter 2

The Tower of Trial

The office of Guild ‘Han’, located in Mapo-gu.

Kim Jun stood by the window, looking toward Yeouido.

“Haa.”

Kim Jun waited, letting out consecutive sighs.

Waiting only for the Tower of Trial to appear in Yeouido.

What was the Tower?

It was an existence that completely overturned the existing Hunter system.

Until now, a Hunter’s strength was only distinguished by grades like S-rank or A-rank. It was a limit predetermined from birth, an insurmountable wall.

But the Tower was different.

A level system. A new possibility where anyone could become stronger through effort.

An S-rank Hunter at level 1 and a D-rank Hunter at level 100 could possess similar combat power.

That’s why countless Hunters, regardless of grade, flocked to the Tower.

Though their ultimate fate wasn’t good.

‘The most important thing is the job selection.’

Currently, Hunters didn’t have a clear ‘job’ concept. Those with strong magic power fought somewhat like mages, the nimble fought like assassins, the sturdy fought like tanks.

But the Tower’s system confined Hunters within a clear class structure.

The ‘Class Change Test’ taken on the Tower’s 5th floor. There, one chose a job suited to them.

Warrior, Guardian, Mage, Rogue… and special jobs.

Of course, other unique jobs existed too.

“This time, I will save everyone.”

Kim Jun muttered.

In his previous life, he only found out after reaching the 50th floor. The fact that ‘Hidden Classes’ existed in the Class Change Test.

Hidden jobs much more powerful than ordinary ones, but only obtainable by meeting special conditions.

If he had known that from the beginning… his comrades might not have died. No, they might have cleared the Tower.

Ding!

A semi-transparent window floated before Kim Jun’s eyes.

[Notice to Korean Hunters]
[The Tower of Trial has opened.]
[The Tower consists of 100 floors and offers new growth opportunities beyond the existing grade system.]
[Break through your limits by leveling up.]
[Tower Location: Yeouido, Seoul, Republic of Korea]
[Significant penalties apply for failed conquest.]

The time had come.

Kukukukoom!

The office shook. A massive vibration felt from not far away.

Kim Jun looked outside. A gigantic structure piercing the sky, rising from the direction of Yeouido.

“There should have been more time left?”

According to his pre-regression memories, the Tower should have appeared three days later.

“Perhaps?”

He didn’t know if it was related to the Red Gate, the ‘Lost Ruins,’ but it didn’t matter how it happened.

This time would be different. He would make sure of it.

The area around the Tower was already chaotic. Hunters, soldiers, and reporters crowded the area, creating congestion.

“Did everyone see the status window?”
“It says there are 100 floors.”
“They say you can get stronger if you enter.”

The Tower was more massive than imagined. A black spire rising so high the top couldn’t be seen. People dared not approach due to its overwhelming presence.

A police barricade was set up 10 meters from the Tower entrance.

“Civilians are prohibited from approaching!”
“Please show your Hunter ID!”

A semi-transparent window floated at the Tower entrance.

[Enter Tower of Trial]
[Current Entrants: 0]
[Max Capacity: Unlimited]
[Will you enter?]

“Ooh! There’s Hunter Kim Jun!”
“Where!”
“Hunter Kim Jun! Are you planning to enter the Tower?”

People began to buzz.

“Hunter Kim Jun! Are you really going in?”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Please give us a statement!”

Reporters swarmed, but Kim Jun only stared at the Tower entrance.

He reached out without hesitation.

“Huh? He’s really going in!”
“Roll the camera! Quick!”

[You have entered the 1st Floor of the Tower of Trial.]
[A new growth system has been applied.]

Kim Jun opened his eyes. A wide grassland spread out before him, and a small village was visible in the distance. Small green-skinned monsters roamed about.

Goblins.

Ding!

[Quest Generated]
[Clear the Goblin Den]
[Objective: Defeat 15 Goblins, Defeat the Goblin Squad Leader]
[Reward: EXP 20]

Kim Jun drew his greatsword without hesitation.

“Gurok?”
“Gurok, Guroaaak!”

Goblins that noticed Kim Jun’s presence began rushing at him in a group.

Goblins were cunning monsters.

Individually, they were only E-rank, but among low-tier monsters, they had relatively high intelligence.

They enjoyed using surrounding attacks utilizing numerical superiority. They also used deception, pretending to be defeated to lure opponents into traps.

That’s why novice Hunters often died in groups, dismissing them as ‘just E-rank’.

Swish—

The greatsword cut through the wind.

“Gurok!”

The head of the goblin leading the charge separated from its body.

The remaining goblins hesitated momentarily. Their comrade had died too easily.

But they soon regained their senses.

“Gurok! Gurokgurok!”

All remaining goblins moved.

Some charged head-on, some flanked from both sides. A typical goblin encirclement tactic.

But Kim Jun didn’t move. He simply drew an invisible circle, facing the goblins from within it.

After pausing to steady his breath, he lightly swung his greatsword.

Sslice—

“Gu, Guroaa….”

The goblins didn’t understand.

That Hunter was clearly standing still. They didn’t even see him swing his sword.

So why was this happening?

Why was the world spinning? Why was the sky getting farther and their own feet getting closer?

Ah, their necks had been cut.

Only then did the goblins realize.

Thudthudthud—

Kim Jun swung his greatsword wide, shaking off the goblin blood.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground shook as a massive shadow emerged from deep within the cave.

“Guroaaaaaaa-!”

The Goblin Squad Leader.

A frame about four times the size of a normal goblin, wielding a massive iron axe. The final boss of the 1st floor and the clear condition.

“Long time no see.”

A smile formed at the corner of Kim Jun’s mouth. An opponent he had met in his previous life too.

And Kim Jun knew.

That a hidden clear condition existed on the 1st floor.

‘Defeating it with bare fists triggers hidden rewards.’

In his previous life, it was an accident. His equipment was broken in the Red Gate, forcing him to fight bare-handed.

But this time was different. Thanks to clearing the Red Gate cleanly, his weapon durability was intact.

Tch.

‘But I can’t miss the hidden reward.’

Kim Jun briefly set down his greatsword, clenched and unclenched his bare fists, and stared at the Goblin Squad Leader.

“Come.”
“Guroa!”

The Goblin Squad Leader roared and raised its axe overhead.

BOOM!

The axe struck the spot where Kim Jun had been standing, but he had already sidestepped.

Thwack-!

A fist struck the Squad Leader’s abdomen. Green blood spurted from its mouth.

The creature screamed and staggered back. But it soon regained balance and attacked again.

Swoosh—

The axe came down vertically. Kim Jun rolled sideways to dodge.

Thwack! Thwack! Crack-!

He landed consecutive punches to the abdomen and flank. The sound of breaking ribs was heard.

“Guwaaaaaaak!!”

Enraged, the Squad Leader wildly swung its axe. Kim Jun calmly dodged the attacks, looking for an opening.

Swish!

The frantic attacks continued, but to Kim Jun, everything seemed like slow motion.

Punch-!

A precise hit to the jaw made the massive body stagger, and Kim Jun immediately followed with a barrage of attacks.

Pummelpummelpummel!

Abdomen, chest, jaw again. Blood splattered with every strike.

“Gu, Guoooe….”

The Squad Leader’s face was a bloody, distorted mess. The nasal bone was completely crushed, one eye burst from a fist, showing only the white.

Thud—

The massive body fell backward, shaking the ground, blood from the torn wounds forming a puddle on the floor.

“Hoo, hoo.”

Kim Jun’s fists were smeared with goblin flesh and blood.

Ding!

[Hidden Condition Achieved!]
[Defeated Goblin Squad Leader with Bare Fists]
[Acquiring Hidden Reward!]
.
.
.
[Acquired 「Beluron’s Hammer」]
[Grade: S]
[Effect: Doubles Item Enhancement Success Rate]

Wiping his bloodied hands, Kim Jun smiled with satisfaction.

‘「Beluron’s Hammer」.’

In his previous life, he had greatly benefited from this hammer too.

Typically, item enhancement has a high failure rate. Especially beyond +5, the failure rate exceeds 70%. Failed enhancement destroys the item or lowers its enhancement level.

But using 「Beluron’s Hammer」 is different. It completely prevents item destruction upon enhancement failure and doubles the success rate.

A 70% failure rate becomes 35%, a 90% failure rate becomes 45%.

In his previous life, the reason Kim Jun could reach the 100th floor, the reason his comrades could hold on a bit longer, was all thanks to this hammer.

Without it, he probably wouldn’t have passed the 80th floor. Without equipment enhancement, upper-floor monsters couldn’t be dealt with.

‘Especially from the 10th floor onward, equipment performance is directly tied to survival.’

With a satisfied smile, he stored the hammer in his inventory.

Double enhancement success rate. What better early-game reward could there be?

Floors 2 to 5 were cleared easily.

More goblin hordes, spiders, wolf packs, even slimes.

All monsters fell helplessly before Kim Jun’s greatsword.

No need to waste time on floors without hidden rewards.

Ding!
Ding!

[Achieved First Clear Reward for Floor 2]
[Achieved First Clear Reward for Floor 3]
[Achieved First Clear Reward for Floor 4]
[Achieved First Clear Reward for Floor 5]

First clears always came with rewards.

[Acquired Additional EXP 100]
[Acquired Additional EXP 100]
[Acquired Additional EXP 100]
[Acquired Additional EXP 100]

A massive amount of EXP flowed to Kim Jun.

[Name]: Kim Jun
[Grade]: S
[Level]: 3
[Remaining Stat Points]: 15
[Stats]: